Chemodectoma of the orbit. Apropos of a case and review of the literature

The clinical, follow up and diagnostic features of a case of chemodectoma (paraganglioma) of the orbit are reviewed. 30 cases are reported in the literature. Chemodectoma may arise in any area of the body where non chromaffin paraganglion structures are situated. These are localized in the orbit of the chimpanzee but not in the orbit of man. Malignant behavior of chemodectoma has been a controversial subject, with most authors considering them to be benign tumors. Some authors have diagnosed locally recurrent and infiltrative tumors as malignant. The authors report one case of chemodectoma of the orbit. A 5 year old child has had right exophthalmos. She was treated by tumorectomy. The follow-up is marked by recurrence of the tumor and infiltration of the right hemi-face.