Orbital inflammatory disease in a child caused by a ruptured dermoid cyst misdiagnosed as orbital cellulitis

One of the most common orbital tumors in childhood is orbital dermoid cysts. Cyst rupture or leakage of the cyst content is one of therare causes of orbital inflammations and needs to be caught early. A five and a half year old boy was referred to us with the diagnosisof orbital cellulitis resistant to antibiotic therapy. Regarding his detailed medical history, physical examination and laboratory testsfindings, he was diagnosed as orbital inflammatory disease caused by dermoid cyst rupture. He underwent surgical excision of thecyst after the inflammation was resolved with a short course of anti-inflammatory treatment. Although, it is rare, dermoid cystrupture is one of the important causes of orbital inflammatory diseases and it must be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis oforbital infections. A detailed history and a careful examination helped us to make the correct diagnosis and avoided diagnostic delayand unnecessary treatment.

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