Respiratory epithelial orbital cysts

Abstract

Congenital or post-traumatic respiratory epithelial lined cysts of the orbit are very rare, and such cysts more commonly occur as mucocoeles secondary to chronic paranasal sinus disease. Four new cases of such cysts are described herein, three presumed choristomas and one occurring after trauma. Two of three presumed choristomatous (congenital) cysts occurred in sites that were atypical for the commoner dermoid cyst. One occurred in the superior orbit between the superior rectus and levator palpebrae superioris muscle and one in the temporal fossa and lateral orbit. The third choristomatous lesion occurred in the superotemporal orbit with a well-defined bony defect, a typical pattern of the commoner dermoid cyst. The fourth case, a presumed traumatic respiratory epithelial cyst, probably arose from ethmoidal sinus mucosa. Respiratory epithelial orbital cysts are very rare and may occur in sites that are atypical for the commoner orbital dermoid cyst.

Complex Intratarsal Cyst with a Mixed Ciliated Respiratory-Type and Squamous Epithelial Lining

“…The foregoing findings suggest that the cytokeratin profile of respiratory-type epithelium is a reflection of an arrest in cytoarchitectural maturation of an embryonic kDa, kilodaltons; HMWCK, high molecular weight cytokeratin. 1 Cytokeratin staining indicates that the non-ciliated epithelium is closely related to, if not identical to, the ciliated type. 2 Thick and thin squamous lining are combined because of identical immunostaining profiles.…”

“…Respiratory cysts that are not due to congenital anomalies or prior sinus disease, sinus surgery, or sinus trauma are exceptionally rare and must be distinguished from mucoceles encroaching on the orbit [1][2][3][4]. They have been described in the medial eyelid and in various precincts of the orbit.…”

Respiratory Epithelial Orbital Cyst: A Case Report and Literature Review

“…Acquired orbital respiratory cysts are caused by extension of paranasal sinus mucosa either by herniation because of trauma or by pressure erosion of the thin intervening bone by an expanding mucocele [ 3 ]. Mucoceles arise from prolonged obstruction to outflow and they communicate with parent paranasal sinuses [ 4 ]. Respiratory epithelial cysts with no connection to paranasal sinuses and not associated with sinus disease or trauma are believed to be rare.…”

Respiratory (choristomatous) cyst of the conjunctiva

“…Cystic conjunctival tumors are less common in children; epithelial inclusion cysts are the most common. 1 Respiratory (choristomatous) cysts have been reported to occur in the orbit 3,4 and eyelid. 5 To the best of our knowledge, they have not been described on the ocular surface.…”