Orbital epidermoid cyst

Orbital epidermoid cysts are a rare cause of an orbital mass. 

Clinical presentation

Patients most commonly present with a mass and lid swelling ¹. 

Pathology

Orbital epidermoid cysts can be congenital, acquired (e.g. post-surgery, trauma), or lacrimal gland duct obstruction ³. They can be associated with a bone defect and when involving the skull base intracranial extension is possible ¹. 

Most commonly, they affect the eyelid (i.e. periorbital) but can also occur in the orbit proper ³. 

Radiographic features

See main article: epidermoid cyst.

Differential diagnosis

• orbital dermoid cyst ²
• orbital intradiploic epidermoid cyst ⁴