Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia - a rare finding in the orbital region.

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia is a benign lesion of vascular origin. It is caused by excessive proliferation of endothelial cells in vascular malformations or normal blood vessels. We report the case of a 58-year-old woman sent to our clinic for surgery of an orbital fat prolapse at her right eye. The clinical examination showed a displacable swelling with a slightly livid aspect approximately 2 cm in diameter under the upper orbital rim. After MRI, a biopsy was carried out leading to the histological diagnosis of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia. The complete excision of the remaining tumor was performed 8 weeks later. We discuss this clinical entity and the management of such lesions in the orbital region. (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel