Orbital epidermoids and dermoids

Abstract

A series of 1 epidermoid and eight dermoid tumors with primary orbital location is reported on. The term cholesteatoma is inadequate to cover epidermoids, dermoids and inflammatory cholesteatomas. The features present in our series and in 81 similar cases collected from literature show that a long standing disaxiale proptosis, without impairment of ocular motility, is indicative of the tumouts under discussion. The X-ray finding of a clearcut patch of bone rarefaction with a marginal hyperostosis is also characteristic of these lesions. Radical surgery is mandatory; a subfrontal extradural approach to orbit is favoured.