Hematic Pseudocyst Masquerading as Orbital Cellulitis and Sinusitis

Abstract

Hematic pseudocysts are fibrous, nonepithelial lined capsules containing blood byproducts that typically present remotely following orbital fracture hardware implantation. Trauma, implant migration, and tissue erosion are believed to cause hemorrhage to pool within the capsular space. Risk factors include inadequate posterior fracture reduction and use of nonporous material which prevents fibrovascular ingrowth and stabilization. Mass effect from these lesions may cause patients to present with pain, lid swelling, hyperglobus, proptosis, lid retraction, motility restriction, or blurry vision. Pseudocysts associated with fracture hardware have been misdiagnosed as tumors or in one prior case as an infection. Herein we report a unique case of hematic pseudocyst masquerading as orbital cellulitis with maxillary sinusitis. A 59-year-old man presented with periorbital pain, hyperglobus, proptosis, and ptosis 2 years after repair of an orbital floor fracture. CT demonstrated a soft tissue collection adjacent to an implant as well as maxillary sinus opacification. He did not improve with antibiotics, at which point surgery revealed a pseudocyst and its contents were removed. This report describes a unique presentation of orbital pseudocyst and summarizes the literature on this entity.

Keywords

• pseudocyst
• hematic cyst
• orbital fracture
• hardware