Pediatric Periocular Dermoid Cysts: Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, and Surgical Outcomes

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To report the incidence, clinical findings, and surgical outcomes of periocular dermoid cysts diagnosed among children over a 20-year period.

Methods: All patients ≤5 years of age, who were diagnosed with a periocular dermoid cyst in Olmsted County, Minnesota from 1986 to 2005 were reviewed to determine the population incidence, clinical presentation, and management outcomes.

Results: A total of 54 children were diagnosed with a periocular dermoid cyst during the 20-year period, yielding a birth incidence of 1 in 638 live births. The mean age at diagnosis was 12 months (range, 1 month–60 months) and 29 (53.7%) were female. A total of 44 cysts (81.5%) occurred in the superotemporal orbital rim, 6 (11.1%) in the superonasal orbital rim, 3 (5.6%) in other periocular areas, and one (1.9%) within the orbit. A total of 34 (63%) children had an ophthalmic exam, all without amblyopia or other ocular sequelae. A total of 48 (88.9%) patients underwent surgical excision with 5 (10.4%) having documented intra-operative cyst rupture, none of whom had post-operative complications. Two (4.2%) other patients were, however, noted to have lesion recurrence following surgical intervention.

Conclusions: Periocular dermoid cysts occur in approximately 1 in 650 live births and most commonly occur in the superotemporal region of children aged 1 year or less. Ocular sequelae are rare and surgical excision often yields excellent results.

KEYWORDS:

• Pediatric Dermoid Cyst
• dermoid Cyst Incidence
• dermoid Cyst Surgery
• dermoid Cyst Epidemiology

Conflict of interest

No conflicting relationships exist for any author.

Additional information

Funding

This study was made possible in part by the Rochester Epidemiology Project (Grant # R01-AG034676 from the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) and by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness Inc., New York, NY. The funding organizations had no role in the design or conduct of this research.