Recurrent cholesterol granuloma of the orbit

A 40-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of left proptosis and hypoglobus. Eight years ago, she had undergone the surgical removal of left orbital cholesterol granuloma by Krönlein lateral orbitotomy. MRI showed a lesion of high T1-signal intensity and heterogeneous T2-signal intensity, which did not demonstrate gadolinium enhancement. The lesion was excised via a sub-brow skin incision, and careful drilling and curettage of the affected bony surface of the superolateral orbit were also performed. The diagnosis of orbital cholesterol granuloma was made by histopathologic examination. There was no evidence of tumor recurrence after 2 years of follow up. The authors present a rare case of recurrent cholesterol granuloma of the orbit and its successful surgical treatment with complete excision of the tumor and the surrounding bony base.