An orbital (eye) biopsy can be done in a few different ways, either by an eye surgeon or a head and neck surgeon.
Open Biopsy
In some cases, the surgeon might recommend that the patient goes to the operating room. A small incision is made through the skin or conjuctiva and an incisional biopsy of the mass is taken and sent for review by a pathologist.
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
Just as in neck masses and other sites of disease, a very thin needle can be inserted into the lesion to extract cells. This can be performed with or without image-guidance depending on the location of the tumor.
Transnasal Biopsies
For tumors growing into the nose or on the inner part of the eye, the doctor may be able to perform a biopsy through the nose using special cameras. The nose will be decongested and numbed. Then, a rigid endoscope and endoscopic forceps are used to remove a piece of the tumor. Depending on the location of the tumor, a surgeon may perform this biopsy in either the clinic or the operating room. Learn more about endonasal biopsies.
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