Surgical removal of a canine orbital lipoma

Abstract

A 10-year-old, female, neutered Cairn terrier was presented with a progressively enlarging, cream-white fluctuant subconjunctival swelling in the right eye. A fine-needle aspirate performed under topical anaesthesia showed that the mass contained lipomatous tissue. Orbital ultrasonography showed the mass to have a distinct border and to extend into the posterior orbit. The mass was removed via a conjunctival incision. It had a distinct capsule anteriorly, while the border of the mass was less readily identified in the posterior orbit. Histopathological examination showed the mass to be a lipoma. The dog recovered uneventfully from surgery, and no recurrence has been noted after 12 months.

Eye

“…4,6,9,51,[118][119][120][121][122][123][124] A-mode and B-mode ultrasound examinations are used extensively in humans to evaluate the retrobulbar tissues. Reports of B-mode application in veterinary medicine are available, describing the more common causes of retrobulbar diseases, inflammatory lesions, lymphoma, and hemorrhage.…”

“…The mass compressed the globe within the region of the optic nerve. 123 In a case series describing the ultrasonographic appearance of the retrobulbar space in 50 dogs with confirmed retrobulbar disease, ultrasonographic abnormalities within the retrobulbar space were identified in 43 dogs. Primary tumors of the lacrimal gland are reported to be rare in small animals; invasion of the gland by tumors from the surrounding tissues is more common.…”

Ultrasonographic Features of Canine Lipomas

“…They arise in sites where fat is present, particularly in subcutaneous fat tissue 3–5 . There is little information on the ultrasonographic appearance of lipomas in the dog 6–12 …”

Ventral transpalpebral anterior orbitotomy: surgical description and report of 3 cases

“…Surgical intervention is indicated for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes . Various approaches to the canine orbit have been reported including the lateral, modified lateral, transfrontal medial–dorsal–posterior, and transconjunctival techniques . All of these approaches, except for the transconjunctival and medial–dorsal–posterior techniques, require extensive tissue dissection and osteotomies; however, they allow for greater exposure of the orbit for both intraconal and extraconal lesions .…”

“…All of these approaches, except for the transconjunctival and medial–dorsal–posterior techniques, require extensive tissue dissection and osteotomies; however, they allow for greater exposure of the orbit for both intraconal and extraconal lesions . Transconjunctival and medial–dorsal–posterior orbitotomies can be performed with limited tissue dissection and lack of bone manipulation yet may offer limited orbital exposure . Only one report exists describing the transconjunctival approach for excision of an orbital lipoma in a dog; however, the transpalpebral technique has yet to be described.…”