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Diagnosis and anatomic mapping of an orbital varix by computed tomographic angiography.

White JH, Fox AJ, Symons SP

Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Medical Imaging, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

PURPOSE: To report the use of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) to diagnose an orbital varix. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: A 73-year-old female was investigated by CTA for carotid artery stenosis. An incidental orbital lesion was discovered. Reformations were obtained. RESULTS: CTA demonstrated a homogeneously enhancing orbital apex lesion. It provided exceptional anatomic detail of inflow and outflow veins, confirming the diagnosis of an orbital varix. CONCLUSIONS: CTA is cost effective, fast, non-invasive, and readily available. These aspects combined with the exceptional vascular detail obtained may make CTA the primary test for orbital varix diagnosis.

Published 28 November 2005 in Am J Ophthalmol, 140(5): 945-7.
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