Macrocystic enlargement of orbital dermis-fat grafts

Acquired cysts represent an unusual but significant complication of orbital dermis-fat grafts. We report two cases of late postoperative enlargement of dermis-fat grafts: First, macrocystic enlargement occurring in both orbits with severe microphthalmia; second, cystic enlargement occurring in a dermis-fat graft for anophthalmia following an earlier evisceration. Both graft enlargements were due to epithelial-lined cysts that developed within the graft tissue. These cysts were treated by excising the cysts walls and allowing the resultant cavity to heal spontaneously. Light microscopy of the excised tissue revealed that the clear cysts were lined by a non-keratinizing, stratified squamous epithelium. The histogenesis of the cysts is unclear, but most likely they are the result of incompletely removed or implanted conjunctival or corneal epithelium. Several other possibilities are discussed. Due to the difficulty of removing all corneal and conjunctival epithelium, cystic complications of dermis-fat grafts make unattractive their use for volume enhancement in patients with microphthalmia or following evisceration.