ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To identify patterns of regional metastasis according to primary tumor location in patients with malignant periorbital tumor. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients diagnosed with periorbital malignant tumors between 1997 and 2008. We analyzed demographic data, pathologic diagnosis, primary tumor location, lymph node metastasis and recurrences. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients with periorbital cancer were reviewed. Amongst them, 16 patients (M : F=7 : 9, mean age: 57.0 years) had regional metastasis. The follow-up duration of 16 patients was 46.2 months on the average. Nine tumors were located in the medial half, two tumors in the lateral half and five tumors in both halves. The parotid gland was the most common regional metastatic site regardless of primary tumor location, and whether or not medially located. CONCLUSION: The parotid gland lymph node group is crucial for medially located periorbital tumor as well as for laterally located one. Once a malignant periorbital tumor is diagnosed, the whole cervical and parotid lymph nodes should be evaluated carefully.