Orbital lipoma.

A patient who had a huge orbital lipoma with extension to the muscle cone is described. The lipoma was 42 x 34 x 32 mm in size, and there was no visual disturbance following removal of the tumor and iliac bone grafting. Diagnosis of orbital lipoma is difficult to make. This is particularly true of a lipoma with an obvious capsule, which cannot be easily differentiated from a dermoid cyst. However, computed tomography scanning is useful in ascertaining the location, size, and relationship with orbital contents. A review of the literature concerning orbital lipoma revealed only a few reports, and the features of the orbital lipoma are summarized. In addition, the possible mechanism of orbital enlargement and the approach to the muscle cone are described.