Incidental asymptomatic orbital calcifications

Jennifer L. Murray, L. Anne Hayman, Rosa A. Tang, Jade S. Schiffman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To use modern computed tomography (CT) imaging to quantify the incidence of asymptomatic incidental orbital calcifications and describe their histological features. Materials and Methods: One hundred orbital CT scans were reviewed. In addition, patients who had orbital calcification(s) detected on a brain CT scan were examined by the ophthalmology service. Results: Of the orbital CT scans, 2% had bilateral drusen of the optic nerve head, 3% had calcified scleral plaques anterior to the medial or lateral rectus muscles, and 3% had bilateral ossification of the trochlear apparatus. Routine brain CT scans detected asymptomatic calcifications of the sclera and dura surrounding the proximal optic nerves. Conclusion: Incidental asymptomatic orbital calcifications are commonly encountered on modern high- resolution CT images of the brain and orbit. This article should help the clinician to confidently distinguish these densities from foreign bodies or pathological calcifications.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)203-208
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Neuro-Ophthalmology
Volume15
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1995

Keywords

  • Calcification
  • Computed tomography
  • Drusen
  • Dura mater
  • Dura ossification
  • Medial/lateral rectus muscle
  • Orbit
  • Trochlear apparatus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Ophthalmology

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