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Quantitative characterization of growth rate of an incidental deep dermoid cyst in a child using sequential magnetic
Joshua H Hou1, Vinay K Aakalu, Pete Setabutr
1Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. jhou.jhh@gmail.com
Insights
Deep orbital dermoid cysts, often found incidentally, may grow. This case study quantifies growth, suggesting close monitoring for these orbital lesions.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Orbital lesions, particularly deep dermoid cysts, are often incidentally discovered.
- Observation is sometimes recommended due to the perceived slow-growing nature of these tumors.
Observation:
- A 7.5-month-old girl with retinoblastoma presented with an incidental deep orbital dermoid cyst.
- The cyst was monitored using five sequential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans over 23 months.
- Quantitative measurements of the cyst's growth were carefully documented.
Findings:
- The study provides the first published quantitative data on the growth potential of deep orbital dermoid cysts.
- Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of a dermoid cyst after surgical removal.
- The case demonstrated measurable growth in the incidentally discovered orbital lesion.
Implications:
- The findings challenge the assumption of consistently slow growth for deep orbital dermoid cysts.
- Close early monitoring is crucial for incidentally discovered orbital lesions, even those presumed benign.
- This case highlights the importance of serial imaging in evaluating the behavior of orbital tumors in pediatric patients.
Abstract:
When orbital lesions are discovered incidentally, some have advocated observation given the slow-growing nature of deep dermoids; however, little has been published regarding the true growth potential of these tumors. We describe a case of an incidental deep orbital dermoid cyst in a 7.5-month-old girl with retinoblastoma. The cyst was monitored with five sequential magnetic resonance imaging studies of the orbit over 23 months with careful documentation of growth. The cyst was surgically removed without complication, and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of dermoid cyst. This case represents the first published quantitative measurement of dermoid growth potential and highlights the need for close early monitoring in incidentally discovered cases.
