Article
Cholesterol granuloma of the orbit. Diagnosis and surgical management. Report of two cases
Cholesteringranulome der Orbita. Diagnose und chirurgisches Management. Zwei Fallberichte
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Published: | May 8, 2006 |
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Objective: Cholesterol granuloma of the orbit represents an uncommon entity. We report on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of orbitofrontal cholesterol granuloma in two cases.
Methods: Two patients presented to our department with unilateral exophthalmos and orbital pain. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a soft tissue mass in the orbit with evidence of orbital roof and frontal bone destruction. Surgical excision and drilling of the adjacent bone completely removed the lesions. Different surgical approaches were used. In one patient, a pterional craniotomy was performed. The other patient was treated by eye brow incision and supraorbital craniotomy. The histological examination of the surgical specimens showed chronic sclerosing lipogranuloma containing inflammatory cells, hemosiderin and cholesterol crystals.
Results: Complete surgical removal of the granulomatous mass was attempted in each case. Follow-up was 5 and 4 years respectively. We did not observe any recurrences.
Conclusions: For cholesterol granulomas of the orbit surgery is the treatment of choice. Complete excision of the lesion prevents recurrences.