Objectives:

To evaluate the clinical features of dermoid cysts, which are orbital benign congenital choristomas, and the findings of accompanying inflammation.

Materials and Methods:

Forty-eight patients were analyzed retrospectively, who underwent mass excision with the prediagnosis of dermoid cyst, between February 2008-January 2012, in our clinic and were diagnosed with dermoid cyst with histopathological examination. All patients underwent routine ophthalmological examination and radiological imaging. The localization of dermoid cyst in patients, the presence of inflammation in radiological and histopathological examinations, excavation of bone tissue, adhesion of the surrounding tissue and histologically content were evaluated. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) test was used for statistical analysis. P-value lower than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

Results:

The mean age of a total of 48 patients; 26 female and 22 male was determined as 14.5±14.8 years (1-59 years, median age 9 years). In addition to mass complaint in all patients, pain in two patients (4.1%), rash in four patients (8.1%) and ptosis in one patient were detected. In the radiological examination (Orbital MRI-CT), signs of inflammation were detected in one patient. Histopathologically, there was evidence of inflammation in 29 patients (59%). It has been observed that, the presence of inflammation increased with increasing age and mass size (p=001, p=0.022). It has been observed that, adhesion seen around the dermoid mass perioperatively were associated with the increasing mass size (p=0.001). The frequency of inflammation were increasing with age. Bone tissue adhesions and fibrous encapsulation were observed in 31 patients (63%). In one patient, bone tissue change was detected in orbital MRI or CT, bone excavation was observed in 16 patients (32.7%) during the operation.

Conclusion:

Although, there are no compatible findings in clinical and radiological examinations, inflammation and surrounding tissue changes caused by dermoid mass has been observed to begin early period.

Keywords: Periorbital dermoid cyst, choristoma, inflammation