A look at the past . . .

SATTLER protests against operative interference in cases of sarcoma of any of the tissues of the orbit, as an operation always hastens their development. In support of this he offers the following cases: Case I. Subperiosteal pulsating sarcoma in the floor of the left orbit of a child of nine; rapid growth; duration six months; death; metastatic deposits in brain, cerebellum, and internal organs. In this case, removal of orbital contents was quickly followed by a recurrence of the growth. Case II. Large subperiosteal myeloid sarcoma of the inner wall and roof of the orbit. Death in six months after first local manifestation. Case III. Girl of three and one-half years. Tumor completely filling the orbital cavity. Eye removed. Child died four weeks later. Case IV. Large tumor (sarcoma?) of right orbit. Duration three months. No operation. Metastasis to brain and internal organs. Case V. Encapsulated (?) soft, round-celled sarcoma in floor and apex of orbit in a girl of four years. Great protrusion. Operative exenteration of the orbit. Recovery. Case VI. Subperiosteal alveolar round-celled sarcoma. Slow growth, exploratory operation. Death in three and one-half years. Case VII. Enormous osteo-sarcoma of left orbit. No operation. Death. Duration six years. Patient aged sixty-two. Case VIII. Osteo-sarcoma of the walls of the orbit; enucleation and exenteration. Tumor slowly returned, but patient disappeared from observation.