Superior eyelid incision: an alternative approach for frontozygomatic dermoid cyst excision

Sixty-five children presenting with frontozygomatic (lateral brow) dermoid cysts were operated using an upper eyelid crease incision. There were 38 girls and 27 boys age 3 months to 13 years (mean age, 15 months). The lesions were left sided in 32 patients and right sided in 33 patients. Preoperative radiograph or computed tomographic scan performed for 25 children failed to demonstrate a bony defect in the area of the cyst. At surgery, 14% of the cysts were adherent to the periosteum and 5% were subperiosteal. One cyst extended through the bone into the orbit. All cysts were removed completely, and this was accomplished without rupture in 54 patients. The average operating time was 21 minutes. All children were seen within 1 month of surgery. The postoperative course was uneventful except for early swelling and erythema in 2 children. Thirty-six patients (55%) could be reached for long-term follow-up (range, 1-7.1 years) postoperatively. The authors found no lid or ocular dysfunction and excellent scar camouflage in all patients.