Orbital cystic schwannoma masquerading as hydatid cyst

BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Apr 13:2018:bcr2017223645. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-223645.

Abstract

Gradually increasing abaxial proptosis in a middle-aged female patient revealed a large well-defined cystic lesion behind the globe extending till the orbital apex. B scan ultrasound and CT findings were favouring a diagnosis of orbital hydatid cyst. Thus as a diagnostic/curative surgical protocol, the cystic lesion was removed in total. However, intraoperative gross specimen examination was not classical of hydatid cyst, thus a further histopathological evaluation was carried out, which confirmed the diagnosis of orbital schwannoma with extensive cystic degeneration. Postoperatively the clinical course was uneventful at the end of 1 year.

Keywords: medical education; oncology; ophthalmology; radiology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echinococcosis / diagnosis*
  • Exophthalmos / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neurilemmoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Neurilemmoma / pathology*
  • Neurilemmoma / surgery
  • Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures
  • Orbital Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Orbital Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Orbital Neoplasms / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography