Clinical Outcomes of Ruptured Periorbital and Orbital Dermoid Cysts.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of ruptured dermoid cysts.

METHODS

A multicenter, retrospective study of all cases of periorbital and orbital dermoid cysts with histopathological evidence of rupture, including those with clinical rupture, was performed over a 10-year period. Demographics and clinical outcomes of ruptured dermoid cysts were recorded. Persistent inflammation was defined as the presence of edema, erythema, and discomfort for at least 28 days.

RESULTS

Eighty-six cases of dermoid cysts were identified. Median age was 5.5 (range, 1-63) years. Location of cyst was either periorbital (n = 60, 70%) or orbital (n = 26, 30%). There were 29 cases with clinically apparent rupture: 27 surgically ruptured (93%) and 2 spontaneous rupture (7%). Persistent inflammation was found in 1 spontaneous cyst rupture case (50%) and 1 surgically ruptured cyst (3.7%). Older age (p = 0.01) and bony attachment (p = 0.001) were significant factors for cyst rupture, while there was no influence from cyst location (p = 0.14).

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent inflammation is uncommon after surgical rupture of dermoid cysts, but likely after spontaneous rupture. Older age and bony attachment are risk factors for cyst rupture.