Intraorbital dermoid cyst

Abstract

This article aimed to describe the clinical and imaging characteristics of the intraorbital dermoid cyst, and its postoperative evolution. Dermoid cysts represent 3%-9% of all intraorbital tumors. They result from sequestrum of the ectoderm between the embryonic fusion lines of mesodermal derivatives. Most dermoid cysts are superficial, presenting in early childhood as a discrete volume increase in the eyebrow and the eyelid. Their growth is slow and they are generally associated to the frontozygomatic and the frontoethmoidal sutures. An intraorbital location is infrequent. A case is presented of a female 5-year-old patient admitted for progressive proptosis. Imaging studies showed a right intraorbital cyst at the level of the frontozygomatic process with underlying bone erosion. Surgical resection was performed by lateral orbitotomy with Krönlein's technique. Histopathological examination revealed a dermoid cyst. The patient's evolution has been satisfactory.

Key words: Intraorbital dermoid cyst; orbital tumors; computed tomography.