In vitro orbital volume measurement using computed tomography

Abstract

A method for measuring orbital volume using CT with contiguous 3 mm axial sections is described. The accuracy of the method is 3.2% as demonstrated by comparing the CT volume measurements with those derived directly from cadaveric human skulls. The interindividual observer variation was 5.4% for the skulls and 2.6% for the CT measurements. The intraindividual observer variation was 2.2% for the CT measurements. Within the same individual, the right and left orbital volumes were found to be within 0.57 cm3 of each other. The present study demonstrates that CT is a practical method of determining the orbital volume and could be used in the management of blow-out fractures and traumatic enophthalmos by predicting the volume of the diseased orbit from the normal one.