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Objectives: The aim of this multicentre retrospective study was to describe the clinical presentation, imaging findings, diagnosis and outcomes of cats with retrobulbar neoplasia., Methods: A total of 37 cats that were diagnosed with retrobulbar neoplasia and underwent advanced imaging were recruited from searches of the clinical records of two referral hospitals. All cats had neoplasia confirmed via cytology or histopathology. Data relating to the signalment, presentation, results of investigations, treatment and outcome were recorded. A review of imaging studies was performed where possible., Results: In total, 23 cases (62%) were presented with respiratory signs. Exophthalmos was the most common ophthalmological examination finding, present in 18 cases (49%). Thirty-two cases (86%) had secondary extension of neoplasia to the retrobulbar space (most commonly from the nasal cavities), present in 20 cases (54%), of which 12 were lymphoma. In cases where contrast was administered, 28/35 (80%) had contrast-enhancing masses. Orbital extension was detected in 21 cases (57%), exophthalmos in 22 (59%), globe deformation in 12 (32%) and local lymphadenomegaly in 22 (61%). In total, 36 (97%) retrobulbar tumours were malignant. Thoracic imaging, where it was performed, was concerning for metastasis in 8/25 cases (31%), with abdominal imaging suggestive of metastasis in 5/12 (42%). The most common diagnosis was lymphoma with 19 cases (51%), with nasal lymphoma representing 12 of these, followed by carcinoma in 10 (27%). The median survival time, for cases where death was recorded, was 85 days (range 1-263 days)., Conclusions and Relevance: To the authors' knowledge, this is the largest study of neoplasia affecting the feline retrobulbar space. Retrobulbar tumours in cats are overwhelmingly malignant, and commonly due to secondary extension of tumours originating elsewhere. Lymphoma, particularly arising from the nasal cavities, was the most common cause. Cats presenting with signs suggestive of retrobulbar disease should be assessed for disease affecting any of the structures of the head.

Orbital diseases are common in dogs and cats and can present on emergency due to the acute onset of many of these issues. The difficulty with diagnosis and therapy of orbital disease is that the location of the problem is not readily visible. The focus of this article is on recognizing classical clinical presentations of orbital disease, which are typically exophthalmos, strabismus, enophthalmos, proptosis, or intraconal swelling. After the orbital disease is confirmed, certain characteristics such as pain on opening the mouth, acute vs. chronic swelling, and involvement of nearby structures can be helpful in determining the underlying cause. Abscesses, cellulitis, sialoceles, neoplasia (primary or secondary), foreign bodies, and immune-mediated diseases can all lead to exophthalmos, but it can be difficult to determine the cause of disease without advanced diagnostic imaging, such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, or computed tomography scan. Fine-needle aspirates and biopsies of the retrobulbar space can also be performed., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

A 3-year female-neutered domestic shorthair cat presenting with exophthalmos and an ipsilateral subzygomatic soft tissue mass lesion is described. Magnetic resonance imaging of the mass was performed followed by complete surgical excision. The mass was determined to be a retrobulbar teratoma and complete resection was curative. Teratomas are rare germ-cell tumours that uncommonly form in extragonadal sites. A retrobulbar location has not been previously reported in the cat and should be considered a rare cause of exophthalmos in this species.

Clinical signs of orbital disease include exophthalmos, strabismus, or, less commonly, enophthalmos. Fungal orbital disease is uncommon. A case of nasal, frontal sinus, and orbital aspergillosis in a cat is described. Diagnostics for exophthalmos and therapy for retrobulbar abscesses are discussed.

Ocular emergencies can be very intimidating for veterinarians. Most ocular emergencies can be stabilized by the veterinarian until an ophthalmologist can be consulted if necessary. Proptosis, or forward displacement of the globe, can occur secondary to any blunt trauma to the head. The two options for a proptosed eye are enucleation or replacement with tarsorrhaphy depending on the viability of the extraocular tissues and eye. Glaucoma, or increased intraocular pressure (above 35 mm Hg), is diagnosed by measuring the intraocular pressure using a Shiotz or electronic tonometer. Emergency treatment includes intravenous mannitol and topical pilocarpine. Uveitis, or inflammation of the iris, ciliary body and/or choroid, can have many underlying causes such as neoplasia, infection, lens induced, and trauma. The treatment consists of treating the underlying cause, and administering topical atropine to alleviate pain and topical corticosteroids to decrease inflammation. Corneal ulcers, or defects in the corneal epithelium, are classified according to the depth of the defect. The treatment consists of topical antibiotics and topical atropine. If the ulcer is deep, is melting, or is a descemetocele, then a third eyelid or conjunctival flap is usually necessary. The cornea should be sutured if it is perforated or lacerated. Hyphema, or blood in the anterior chamber, can occur secondary to trauma, neoplasia, infection, or a coagulapathy. The treatment consists of treating the underlying cause and topical corticosteroids with or without antibiotics.

A case of malignant melanoma of the nictitating membrane in a 10-year-old cat is described. The primary unilateral tumour mass appeared to originate from the surface of the nictitating membrane, with infiltrative growth in the orbital cavity, resulting in exophthalmia. No ocular involvement was noted. Metastatic spread was seen in the cerebrum and the lungs. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a metastasizing melanoma originating from the nictitating membrane in a cat.

Eighteen eyes of 66 dogs were visual on reevaluation of traumatic proptosis. Twenty-one eyes were enucleated, and 4 dogs were euthanatized. In 18 cats, no eyes regained vision after traumatic proptosis: 12 cats had the affected eye enucleated, 2 had an eye that was considered blind, and 4 cats were euthanatized. Affected eyes of 45 dogs and 2 cats underwent surgical replacement and temporary tarsorrhaphy. Favorable prognostic indicators for eyes undergoing surgical replacement included proptosis in a brachycephalic dog, positive direct or consensual pupillary light response, normal findings on posterior segment examination, and a proptosed eye that had vision on initial examination. Unfavorable prognostic indicators included proptosis in a nonbrachycephalic dog, proptosis in cats, hyphema, no visible pupil, facial fractures, optic nerve damage, and avulsion of 3 or more extraocular muscles.