Dermolipoma: characteristic CT appearance

Bilateral Epibulbar Dermolipomas in a Patient With Goldenhar Syndrome

ABSTRACT

A 19-year-old woman consulted for bilateral superotemporal conjunctival lesions that had been present since birth. Physical examination also revealed hemifacial microsomia and bilateral auricular appendages. Medical history included heart, hearing, and neurologic problems. Excision biopsy of these lesions showed nodular proliferations of adipose tissue, which corresponded to the diagnosis of dermolipomas in the setting of Goldenhar syndrome. Complete examination for other first and second branchial arch anomalies is warranted in patients presenting with such lesions.

The Presentation and Surgical Treatment of Peribulbar Dermolipomas

PURPOSE

To evaluate the presentation, treatment, and outcome for patients with peribulbar dermolipomas and describe a reliable technique for excision of large lesions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective chart review for patients seen at Moorfields Eye Hospital between 1976 and 2019. Patient demographics, clinical features, imaging (CT or MRI, where available), histopathology, and surgical outcomes were reviewed.

RESULTS

One hundred and ninety-six eyes of 187 patients (117 females; 63%) were identified as having dermolipoma, the patients presenting at an average age of 21.5 years and-where recorded in 163 patients-had first symptoms at an average age of 12.9 years. Although 8/187 (4%) patients were asymptomatic, the commonest symptom was increasing size of a longstanding peribulbar lump (136 patients; 73%); other symptoms included ocular irritation (24%), episodic localized conjunctival injection (12%), and mucoid discharge (12%). One-third of dermolipomas had visible hairs (some with localized giant papillary conjunctivitis), lateral canthal widening was present in 44 patients, aberrant lacrimal gland ductules opening onto skin in 8, and a complex lateral canthal anomaly-with both an external dermoid and an internal dermolipoma-was present in 9 patients. Complete management details were available for 120 patients (those treated after 1990) and 40 (33%) electing for observation, 71 (59%) had excision for long-term irritation and discharge and 9 (8%) for cosmesis: together with the integral subdermal fat lobule, in all cases the abnormal, nonwetting squamous epithelium was delineated and excised under microscopic control, and the conjunctival defect closed directly (59/80 eyes) or with a "V-to-Y" closure (21 eyes; 26%). The presenting symptoms were cured in all except 1 patient, who required excision of residual abnormal epithelium causing persistent symptoms. Two patients developed symblepharon to the lateral canthus after direct conjunctival closure, this having no functional effect, and 2 other patients had slight restriction of extreme horizontal gaze.

CONCLUSION

Dermolipomas may require surgery when they become more prominent with age, or start causing ocular irritation and discharge. Complications are few with meticulous removal of the nonwetting squamous epithelium and direct conjunctival closure, or when using a "V-to-Y" conjunctivoplasty for larger defects.

Dermolipoma of the lower eyelid

PURPOSE

To report a rare case of isolated dermolipoma of the lower eyelid.

DESIGN

Case report.

RESULTS

A young otherwise healthy girl presenting with a slowly progressive, painless lesion of the left lower eyelid of about 3 years' duration had undergone conservative management elsewhere for symptoms of intermittent, mild irritation associated with the mass without any significant benefit. Increase in the size of the lesion in the recent past had been noted. Mass excision with histopathology showed it to be consistent with a dermolipoma.

CONCLUSIONS

An eyelid dermolipoma is distinctly uncommon in occurrence. Nonetheless, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of benign mass lesions of the eyelid.

Orbital masses: CT and MRI of common vascular lesions, benign tumors, and malignancies

A wide variety of space occupying lesions may be encountered in the orbit. CT and MR imaging frequently help confirm the presence of a mass and define its extent. Characteristic imaging features may help distinguish among lesions that have overlapping clinical presentations. This review focuses on some of the common orbital masses. Common vascular lesions that are reviewed include: capillary (infantile) hemangioma, cavernous hemangioma (solitary encapsulated venous-lymphatic malformation), and lymphangioma (venous-lymphatic malformation). Benign tumors that are reviewed include: optic nerve sheath meningioma, schwannoma, and neurofibroma. Malignancies that are reviewed include: lymphoma, metastasis, rhabdomyosarcoma, and optic glioma. Key imaging features that guide radiological diagnosis are discussed and illustrated.

Subconjunctival fat prolapse and dermolipoma of the orbit: differentiation on CT and MR imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Subconjunctival fat prolapse and dermolipoma of the orbit are unfamiliar to radiologists and yet should be differentiated because their treatments are different. The purpose of this study was to investigate the CT and MR imaging findings that distinguish these 2 conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 1995 and 2009, we found 33 patients (27 men, 6 women; mean age, 63 years) with surgically proved subconjunctival fat prolapse and 27 patients (3 males, 24 females; mean age, 17 years) with dermolipoma in our hospital. Among them, 8 patients with subconjunctival fat prolapse and 6 patients with dermolipoma underwent CT and/or MR imaging examinations. We retrospectively reviewed CT scans and MR images in these patients.

RESULTS

In all of the 8 patients with subconjunctival fat prolapse, CT and MR images demonstrated the herniated fat at the superotemporal epibulbar area, continuous with the intraconal fat, extending forward between the lateral wall of the globe medially and the lateral rectus muscle and the lacrimal gland laterally, either bilaterally (n = 7) or unilaterally (n = 1). In contrast, all 6 patients with dermolipoma had a unilateral, crescent- (n = 5), or triangle-shaped (n = 1) fatty mass at the temporal or superotemporal epibulbar area, which lay on the lateral wall of the globe, anterior to the insertion of the lateral rectus muscle and medial to the lacrimal gland, without connection to the intraconal fat.

CONCLUSIONS

The characteristic CT and MR imaging findings may help easily differentiate subconjunctival fat prolapse and dermolipoma, both of which usually present as an epibulbar fatty mass in the lateral canthal area.

Computed tomography of orbital dermoids: a 20-year review

AIM

To review the computed tomographic images of orbital dermoid cysts referred to our institution over a 20-year period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The CT images of 160 patients with histologically proven orbital dermoid cysts were reviewed and patient demographics and cyst characteristics were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 160 dermoid cysts were seen, 87 were in male and 73 in female patients with mean ages of 29 and 27 years respectively. The lateral aspect of the orbit was the most common site (69%, 111/160). Eighty-five percent (136/160) had adjacent bone changes, 46% (73/160) were of lower CT attenuation than the water in the vitreous body, 14% (22/160) had calcification, 5% (8/160) had fluid levels, 73% (117/160) had a visible wall and 80% (129/160) had no soft tissue present outside the cyst.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that orbital dermoids are frequently located at the lateral canthus. Bone sparing, calcification, fluid level, no visible wall and no abnormal soft tissue outside the cyst are infrequent. A CT attenuation similar to fat is relatively frequent. Although many lesions are typical, the range of appearances is wide.