Panda BB, Gokhale S, Mishra P, Sethy M. Primary arteriovenous malformation of the eyelid mimicking a dermoid cyst: A case report. World J Clin Cases 2026; 14(18): 121564 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.121564]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Bijnya Birajita Panda, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, AIIMS Lane, Bhubaneswar 751019, Odisha, India. bigyan_panda@yahoo.co.in
Research Domain of This Article
Ophthalmology
Article-Type of This Article
case-report
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
Share the Article
Panda BB, Gokhale S, Mishra P, Sethy M. Primary arteriovenous malformation of the eyelid mimicking a dermoid cyst: A case report. World J Clin Cases 2026; 14(18): 121564 [DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.121564]
Bijnya Birajita Panda, Shreyas Gokhale, Priyadarshini Mishra, Department of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751019, Odisha, India
Madhusmita Sethy, Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneshwar 751019, Odisha, India
Author contributions: Panda BB and Gokhale S contributed to manuscript writing and editing, and data collection; Sethy M contributed to histopathological description; Mishra P contributed to conceptualization and supervision; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: AI tools (specifically ChatGPT) were used solely for linguistic refinement and formatting assistance. No AI tool was involved in the generation of research data, interpretation of results, or formulation of conclusions. All AI-generated outputs were critically reviewed and revised by the authors.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Bijnya Birajita Panda, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, AIIMS Lane, Bhubaneswar 751019, Odisha, India. bigyan_panda@yahoo.co.in
Received: March 27, 2026 Revised: May 10, 2026 Accepted: May 22, 2026 Published online: June 26, 2026 Processing time: 80 Days and 9.6 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the eyelid are rare vascular lesions that can be difficult to diagnose because they often present in unusual ways. While AVMs typically show signs of vascularity such as pulsation, bruit, or skin discoloration, some lesions may appear as simple painless eyelid swellings and closely resemble benign conditions like dermoid or epidermal inclusion cysts. Such atypical presentations can lead to misdiagnosis and unexpected challenges during surgery.
CASE SUMMARY
We report an atypical case of an AVM presenting as a cystic eyelid mass. An 18-year-old female presented with a progressively enlarging swelling of the left upper eyelid over a period of two years. Non-contrast computed tomography revealed a well-defined soft-tissue lesion, provisionally diagnosed as an epidermal inclusion cyst. The patient underwent excisional biopsy under general anesthesia. A greyish-brown mass was completely excised and submitted for histopathological examination, which confirmed the diagnosis of an AVM. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no recurrence was observed at one year of follow-up. This case highlights the variability in the clinical presentation of AVMs.
CONCLUSION
This case highlights how an eyelid AVM can closely mimic a benign cystic lesion such as a dermoid cyst, creating a significant diagnostic challenge. Even in the absence of obvious vascular signs, vascular malformations should be considered in atypical or progressively enlarging eyelid masses. Early recognition and careful surgical management can help prevent complications and achieve excellent cosmetic and functional outcomes.
Core Tip: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the eyelid are rare and may mimic benign cystic lesions, leading to misdiagnosis. This case highlights an unusual presentation of AVM as a presumed epidermal inclusion cyst on imaging. Complete surgical excision with histopathological confirmation remains essential for accurate diagnosis and management. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for vascular malformations in atypical eyelid masses to avoid intraoperative complications and ensure appropriate treatment.
