Forty-one patients undergoing surgery between 1977 and 1985 for malignant tumors of the paranasal sinuses abutting or eroding the orbital walls were studied for the need to remove the orbital contents. All patients had preliminary computed tomographic scans to delineate the extent of orbital invasion. All were treated with preoperative radiotherapy. If the tumor mass could be peeled from the periorbita, the eye was saved. Preservation of eyes in the patients without periosteal invasion did not alter survival. Frozen-section control may be used to determine periorbital involvement. If the periorbita was minimally involved, it was locally resected. If invasion of the periorbita was extensive, an orbital exenteration was done. Only five of 41 patients required exenteration. Local recurrence of disease in the orbit has not occurred in these patients.