Comparison of two surgical methods for the treatment of optic pathway gliomas in the intraorbital segment: an analysis of long-term clinical follow-up, which evaluates the surgical outcomes

Background This study analyzes two kinds of surgical methods for the treatment of optic pathway gliomas (OPGs) in the intraorbital segment, as well as the surgical outcomes of OPGs. Methods The clinical data of 86 patients with OPGs treated in our center was analyzed retrospectively, and the clinical symptoms, treatment methods, and follow-up results were recorded. Results For OPGs in the intraorbital segment, the optic nerve sheath incision was performed to remove a tumor while retaining the optic nerve sheath in Group 1 (n=36). The optic nerve sheath and the tumor were simultaneously removed without retaining the optic nerve sheath in group 2 (n=50). The effects of the design of the surgical methods on the post-surgical outcome are: One patient (1/36, 2.8%) had recurrence in Group 1 and one patient (1/50, 2.0%) had recurrence in group 2. The differences in the surgical outcomes of the two groups regarding exophthalmos, conjunctiva swelling, eye movement disorder, and ptosis were found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with group 2, the surgical outcomes in the postoperative phase of Group 1 were more satisfactory. Conclusions The two surgical methods do not increase the recurrence rate of tumors. The resection of OPGs through an optic nerve sheath incision was found to be an ideal surgical method for reducing complications in the postoperative phase and for providing better surgical outcomes.