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Lymphangioma of the orbit
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Lymphangiomas are not tumors, but rather malformations that are non-functioning benign vascular malformations that extend throughout the orbit and sometimes into the oropharynx. Although lymphangiomas are not circulatory, bleeding from them into cavities can result in the formation of blood-filled "chocolate" cysts.
Orbital lymphangioma usually appears in childhood.
[ Symptoms of Orbital Lymphangioma
- in anterior localization it is a cluster of bluish soft formations in the superonasal quadrant in combination with cysts on the conjunctiva;
- in the posterior localization it can cause slowly progressing exophthalmos or be initially asymptomatic, and then manifest itself as sudden painful exophthalmos due to spontaneous hemorrhage. The blood is encapsulated with the formation of "chocolate" cysts, which can regress on their own over time.
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Orbital lymphangioma treatment
Treatment of orbital lymphangiomas by surgical removal is difficult because lymphangiomas are fragile, unencapsulated, bleed easily, and can infiltrate normal orbital tissue. Persistent, sight-threatening "chocolate" cysts should be drained or partially vaporized with a carbon dioxide laser.