Orbital conjunctival dermoid cyst with oncocytic differentiation

Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008 Jan-Feb;24(1):69-71. doi: 10.1097/IOP.0b013e3181606835.

Abstract

A dermoid cyst of conjunctival origin ("conjunctivoid") is a rare variant that has conjunctival nonkeratinizing squamous epithelium and goblet cells, instead of keratinizing squamous epithelium of epidermal origin with epidermal appendages. We report a case of a 65-year-old man with a chronic orbital mass, a conjunctival dermoid that was found to have the unusual histopathologic finding of oncocytic differentiation. This is an infrequent benign chronic change in glandular cells characterized by the accumulation of vast numbers of intracellular mitochondria. Occasionally, oncocytic cellular change occurs in malignant tumors, and so complete excision of such lesions is recommended.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Conjunctival Neoplasms / surgery
  • Dermoid Cyst / pathology*
  • Dermoid Cyst / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Orbital Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Orbital Neoplasms / surgery