Cryptic respiratory epithelial cyst of the lateral orbit in a 3 year old with strabismus and amblyopia

Although choristomatous cystic orbital lesions are not uncommon in the pediatric population, these lesions rarely cause strabismus without being clinically obvious. Common choristomas, such as dermoid cysts and epidermoid cysts, usually cause vision loss through amblyopia or changes in refractive error. A 3-year-old girl with a history of esotropia and presumed lipodermoid who subsequently developed an abduction deficit and worsening of her visual acuity to 20/70 from a baseline of 20/50 is described. Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbits was performed, which showed a large cyst of the lateral orbit. On surgical removal, a developmental cyst lined with respiratory epithelium was identified and, based on its temporal location and history, characterized as a choristomatous lesion. Subsequently, the patient's visual acuity improved to 20/25 without patching. This patient had a larger than expected developmental cyst of respiratory epithelium that was originally thought to be a lipodermoid, contributing to her strabismus and amblyopia. Although orbital imaging is not routine management prior to strabismus surgery in the presence of a lipodermoid, it may be useful in cases when an abduction deficit is present or amblyopia treatment fails, because an underlying process may be responsible.