Recurrent orbitofrontal cholesterol granuloma in pediatric patient: case report and review of the literature

Orbitofrontal cholesterol granuloma is a rare entity which typically involves the lateral part of the supraorbital ridge. It causes progressive expansion and erosion of the inner and outer tables of the frontal bone. We describe a case of recurrent orbitofrontal cholesterol granuloma in a 17-year-old girl. In June 2002 this patient had originally presented to an eye clinic with a small palpable mass in the right superolateral orbit, limitation on upgaze, and progressive proptosis. MRI of the orbit revealed an intraorbital extraconal mass with smooth border, high signal on both T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images. She underwent an anterior orbitotomy via a subbrow incision. The lesion was removed completely, and histopathological examination confirmed a cholesterol granuloma. She remained asymptomatic until her presentation in August 2005. On second admission (3 years later), she complained of a tender palpable mass in the superolateral aspect of the right orbit. Her right eye was 4 mm proptosed and 4 mm inferomedially displaced with limited elevation. The rest of the examination was normal. MRI of the orbit showed a large intraorbital but extraconal mass with smooth border, high signal on both T1- and T2-weighted images without enhancement after gadolinium injection. She underwent complete surgical excision by means of a bicoronal approach. Histopathological diagnosis revealed cholesterol granuloma. No recurrence of the lesion has been observed during the last 6 years following the second operation.