A clinicopathologic study of hematic cysts of the orbit

Hematic cyst of the orbit has been described in association with various diseases, but its pathogenetic mechanism remains unclear. We treated two patients (two men, 38 and 35 years old) who had growing cysts suspected of being malignant tumors. Surgical exploration of the orbits disclosed birefringent crystals (hematodin) either in the cyst wall or in the cyst's contents. The crystals imitated foreign bodies in their appearance and in the reactions they induced.