Cavernous hemangioma of the orbit is best described as which of the following?

• A. Malignant tumor
• B. Benign tumor
• C. Inflammatory lesion
• D. Vascular malformation

Answer: (B)

This lesion behaves like a benign tumor. It is typically a slow-growing, well-defined mass within the orbit that expands the surrounding space without invading adjacent tissues or spreading to distant sites. Histologically, it’s made up of dilated vascular channels lined by endothelium, which gives it a vascular character, but the key point is its noninvasive, nonmetastatic behavior—consistent with benign neoplasm. It’s not an inflammatory lesion, which would present with pain, redness, swelling, or systemic signs. Some modern terminology may call cavernous vascular lesions venous malformations, but in NBEO-style thinking it is best described as a benign tumor because of its growth pattern and lack of aggressive behavior.