[Orbital eosinophilic granuloma].

PURPOSE To report the retrospective experience of a reference center in the diagnosis and treatment of orbital eosinophilic granuloma. METHODS A review of the files in the Opththalmic Pathology Laboratory, of the Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, between 1974 and 2004, was conducted to identify cases of orbital eosinophilic granuloma. Data of diagnosis and treatment were collected. The hematoxilin and eosin stained sections were reviewed. RESULTS Three cases with ages of 1, 6 and 11 years were retrieved. In none of them the clinical diagnosis of eosinophilic granuloma was suspected. All patients underwent diagnostic biopsy with characteristic histological aspect. In one case a orbital computed tomography after biopsy exhibited typical findings. All patients improved with systemic steroids./ CONCLUSIONS This is a rare disease, with a difficult clinical diagnosis if radiological evaluation is not available. In spite of its aggressiveness at presentation, the disease shows good response to systemic steroids.