eMedicine Specialties > Ophthalmology > Orbit

Dermoid, Orbital: Follow-up

Author: Talmadge (Ted) Cooper, MD, Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford Medical School
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jan 28, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • After surgical excision, infrequent follow-up care is necessary.

Complications

  • Orbital dermoid cysts may cause neurologic complications if they compress the optic nerve or cranial nerves III, IV, or IV.
  • If the cyst ruptures, a marked inflammatory response follows.
    • Operative complications are no different from other orbitotomy procedures.
    • Damage to the eye or adnexal structures, motility restriction, infection, inflammation, and hemorrhage may occur.
  • The dermoid cyst may displace the globe, depending on the location of the cyst.

Prognosis

  • Dermoid cysts generally have a benign prognosis.
    • If they are excised completely, usually only a minimal scar occurs.
    • If they are observed rather than excised, slow growth can be expected.

Patient Education

  • Patients should understand that these tumors are benign.
  • Tell patients that surgery generally is successful, but that serious complications can be associated with any orbitotomy (eg, ptosis, diplopia, blindness, death).
 


More on Dermoid, Orbital

Overview: Dermoid, Orbital
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Dermoid, Orbital
Treatment & Medication: Dermoid, Orbital
Follow-up: Dermoid, Orbital
Multimedia: Dermoid, Orbital
References
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References

  1. Chawda SJ, Moseley IF. Computed tomography of orbital dermoids: a 20-year review. Clin Radiol. Dec 1999;54(12):821-5. [Medline].

  2. Chung EM, Smirniotopoulos JG, Specht CS, Schroeder JW, Cube R. From the archives of the AFIP: Pediatric orbit tumors and tumorlike lesions: nonosseous lesions of the extraocular orbit. Radiographics. Nov-Dec 2007;27(6):1777-99. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  3. Golden RP, Shields WE 2nd, Cahill KV, Rogers GL. Percutaneous drainage and ablation of orbital dermoid cysts. J AAPOS. Oct 2007;11(5):438-42. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  4. McNab A. Manual of Orbital and Lacrimal Surgery. Butterworth-Heinemann Medical; 1998.

  5. Prabhakaran VC, Hsuan J, Selva D. Endoscopic-Assisted Removal of Orbital Roof Lesions via a Skin Crease Approach. Skull Base. Sep 2007;17(5):341-5. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  6. Rootman J. Orbital Surgery: A Conceptual Approach. Raven Press; 1995.

  7. Schick U, Hassler W. Pediatric tumors of the orbit and optic pathway. Pediatr Neurosurg. Mar 2003;38(3):113-21. [Medline].

  8. Shields JA, Shields CL. Orbital cysts of childhood--classification, clinical features, and management. Surv Ophthalmol. May-Jun 2004;49(3):281-99. [Medline].

  9. Shields JA, Shields CL, Scartozzi R. Survey of 1264 patients with orbital tumors and simulating lesions: The 2002 Montgomery Lecture, part 1. Ophthalmology. May 2004;111(5):997-1008. [Medline].

  10. Sreetharan V, Kangesu L, Sommerlad BC. Atypical congenital dermoids of the face: a 25-year experience. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2007;60(9):1025-9. [Medline]. [Full Text].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

orbital dermoid cysts, epidermoid cysts, dermoid cysts, orbital tumors, choristoma, epidermoid

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Talmadge (Ted) Cooper, MD, Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford Medical School
Talmadge (Ted) Cooper, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology and American College of Medical Informatics
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Jorge G Camara, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery and Director of Fellowship Training Program in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for Countries Served by the Aloha Medical Mission, University of Hawaii John A Burns School of Medicine
Jorge G Camara, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, and American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute; Chief of Section of Ophthalmology Surgical Services, Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Center, West Los Angeles
Simon K Law, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Mark T Duffy, MD, PhD, Consulting Staff, Division of Oculoplastic, Orbito-facial, Lacrimal and Reconstructive Surgery, Green Bay Eye Clinic, BayCare Clinic; Medical Director, Advanced Cosmetic Solutions, A BayCare Clinic
Mark T Duffy, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sigma Xi, and Society for Neuroscience
Disclosure: Allergan - Botox Cosmetic Consulting fee Consulting; Quest medical - lacrimal balloons Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Ortho-Neutrogenia Consulting fee Consulting

CME Editor

Lance L Brown, OD, MD, Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Hampton Roy Sr, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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