Recurrent epibulbar dermoid cyst treated with amniotic membrane implant a case report

The dermoid cyst considered a cystic teratoma derived from embryonic germinal epithelium is a slow-growing benign tumour. Dermoid cysts may occur in the orbital and periorbital region in paediatric patients and are often recurrent. The surgical approach depends upon the site of the lesion, superficial or deep. To our knowledge, this is the first described case of a patient with resection of dermoid cyst treated with human amniotic membrane implant and topical application of 0.02% mitomycin C.

We present a case of a 12-year-old male with a tumour in the superotemporal region of the right eye (RE). Symptoms included decreased visual acuity (VA), burning eye, foreign body sensation, and photophobia of the affected eye. A physical examination detected blepharospasm. Ophthalmic examination of his RE, fingers count from a 1-2 m distance, showed no improvement with pinhole. Visual acuity was 20/20 on the left eye (LE). The bio-microscopic examination confirmed the presence of a tumour mass (15 mm × 12 mm) on the surface of the RE, invading the superotemporal sector. The tumour had a lobulated appearance, a shiny and vascularized surface covered by conjunctiva, a pearlescent-pink colour, a medium consistency, was renitent and painless. An ultrasound scan revealed atrophy of the pigmented retinal epithelium with scleral indentation of the RE. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a recurrent lesion consistent with an epibulbar dermoid cyst. Surgical excision of the lesion was performed and a human amniotic membrane (HAM) graft and topical 0.02% mitomycin C (MMC) were applied. Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of recurrent dermoid cyst.

In this case report, we describe a case of recurrent epibulbar dermoid cyst treated with complete resection; topical MMC and HAM implant with good clinical outcome of the lesion and implant adhesion. Resection of a cyst of the ocular surface is not recommended when a large epibulbar dermoid tissue needs to be resected and no HAM graft is available.