Purpose: To describe the clinical presentation and diagnostic findings on imaging examination of an unusual case of spontaneous intraconal orbital hematic cyst. Methods: The patient was submitted to a complete ophthalmic and clinical examination, computerized tomography, orbital ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and surgical approach to the lesion. Results: Clinical examination revealed severe proptosis, congestive signs and visual loss. Computerized tomography revealed homogeneous and well-defined mass lesion in the orbit compressing the globe. On ultrasound the lesion had low internal reflectivity. Magnetic resonance imaging showed in T1 weighted images isointense signal surrounded by hyperintense signal in the periphery and hyperintense signal in T2 weighted images, indicating blood inside the lesion. Surgical approach confirmed the presence of a hematic cyst of the orbit that was drained with excellent functional recovery. Conclusions: Intraconal hematic cyst should be included in the differential diagnosis of well-defined lesion with acute or subacute development in the orbit that present hyperintense signal in both T1 an T2 weighted images on magnetic resonance imaging. Treatment should be done on an emergency basis in cases with disfiguring proptosis and risk of visual loss.
Orbital diseases; Cysts; Hemorrhage; Tomography, x-ray computed; Ultrasonography
