Orbital tumors may also be discovered incidentally on CT or MRI scans performed for other reasons. In patients with the disease neurofibromatosis type I, orbital tumors are usually optic nerve gliomas. If the tumor is small and not symptomatic, it may be followed safely with serial MRI scans. For patients without neurofibromatosis, diagnosis usually requires a biopsy or removal of the tumor. This would be performed by either an orbital surgeon or a neurosurgeon depending on the particular case.
Surgical removal is curative for many orbital tumors including optic nerve glioma and meningioma.
Some orbital tumors may require additional therapy rather than biopsy or removal. For malignant tumors, including sarcomas and metastases, radiation therapy and in some cases chemotherapy is necessary.