The eyelid crease approach to angular dermoid cysts in pediatric general surgery

Abstract

Purpose We recently adopted an approach described by eyelid surgeons for angular dermoid cyst excision. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of this technique with that accomplished through a conventional trans-eyebrow incision. Methods Prospective nonrandomized study of 34 consecutive children treated between January 2000 and December 2006. Twenty-six patients (group I) were operated on through a trans-eyebrow incision, whereas 8 (group II) received an upper eyelid crease incision. Performance measures included cosmesis, operative time, and complications. Cosmesis was assessed blindly with comparative photographs, using a 100-mm visual analog scale. Results No significant differences were found between groups I and II with regard to age at surgery (22 ± 17 vs 24 ± 4 months; P = .07) and operative time (42 ± 21 vs 40 ± 16 minutes; P = .9). In group II, the scar resulted invisible when the affected side was assessed with the eye open and still significantly better than group I, when evaluated with the eye closed (96 ± 7 vs 81 ± 18 mm; P = .0001). All patients and their families reported great satisfaction and an excellent scar. There were neither major postoperative complications nor recurrence of the lesion. Conclusions Angular dermoid cyst excision using an eyelid crease approach yields excellent cosmesis and represents a safe, simple, and easily reproducible procedure in pediatric general surgical practice.