Sudoriferous Cyst Adhered to Levator Aponeurosis: A Case Report

PURPOSE: Sudoriferous cyst usually occurs on the face, and especially on the ear and scalp as a solitary cystic mass. It is derived from the sweat glands of Moll and results from the obstruction of excretory ducts with the retention of fluid. In the eyelid, it is usually seen as small and firm vesicle arising at the eyelid margin. If it rarely occurs on the orbit, it develops from orbital ectopic epithelial cells predetermined to form glands of Moll. We experienced a case of sudoriferous cyst on eyelid which was adhered to levator aponeurosis and it disappeared when patient closed eyes. METHODS: A 55-year-old women suffered palpable mass on left upper eyelid without pain that had been present for 25 years. Orbital computed tomographic finding showed a oval mass(2.1x0.6x0.6cm size) inside upper eyelid and it invaded the orbit. The mass was completely excised under general anesthesia and histopathological examination was followed. RESULTS: Cystic mass was purple color and it was located in superiorly to tarsal plate. The mass was adhered to levator aponeurosis and levator palpabrae superioris muscle between the fat layer of post-orbital septum and the Whitnall ligament. The mass was completely excised without injury of aponeurosis and muscle. Microscopically, the lesion was a solitary cyst lined by two layers of cuboidal epithelial cells and innermost cells displaying eosinophilic cytoplasm with apical expansions. CONCLUSION: Sudoriferous cyst usually occurs on eyelid margin. But in this case, cystic mass occurred on upper eyelid and disappeared when patient closed the eyes because it was partially adhered to levator aponeurosis and levator palpebrae superioris muscle. Therefore, if sudoriferous cyst occurs on eyelid, it is necessary to excised the mass carefully.

Sudoriferous Cyst of the Orbit

Sudoriferous cyst usually occurs on the face, and occasionally on the ear and scalp as 8 solitary, translucent, and cystic nodule. In the lid it originates from 3 blocked excretory duct of a Moll`s gland therefore, it typically occurs at the lid margin. But it rarely appears in the orbit. A 3 year-old girl had 8 cystic mass in the inferior orbit of left eye that had been present since birth. Histopathologic examination confirmed diagnosis of a sudoriferous cyst.