Bulbar conjunctival plexiform schwannoma in a 5-year-old patient; expect the unexpected!

ABSTRACT: Rare, atypical ophthalmological conditions in adults include bulbar conjunctival plexiform schwannomas, which are usually asymptomatic. Few case reports in the literature indicate the presence of orbital/conjunctival schwannomas in adult patients and, rarely, among children under the age of 12. We report a case of a 5-year-old girl who presented in an outpatient clinic with inferior temporal conjunctival nonpigmented cystic lesion of a 10 × 10 mm size. Upon examination, we could not identify a feeding vessel. The mass was mobile and not fixed to the sclera. The history indicated a 1-year duration but the mass in the left eye had progressively increased in size during the last 2 months prior to presentation. There was no traumatic injury or past history of ophthalmic surgery. Surgical excision of the cyst was sucessfully performed, and histopathological examination confirmed bulbar conjunctival plexiform schwannoma diagnosis. Upon regular follow-up evaluation, there was no evidence of recurrence or malignant transformation. Although it is extremely rare to encounter conjunctival schwannomas in children, it should be considered in ovoidal well-circumscribed orbital swellings, particularly those that appear with no history of trauma or surgery to the eye. Surgical excision is effective and safe therapeutic intervention. Plain language summary A 5-year-old girl consulted our ophthalmology clinic for an unusually large swelling in her left eye. It had been increasing in size over the last 2 months before the consultation. She reported no injury or surgery at the swelling site. Apart from the mass, no other abnormality was noted. The family agreed to the surgical removal of the mass, which was performed. Pathological examination revealed a rare tumor called a bulbar conjunctival plexiform schwannoma. This case report is of interest as this type of tumor is rare in children. This case report confirms that surgical removal of these tumors is safe, feasible, and effective as a treatment for this rare condition.

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PROVIDER: S-EPMC10285596 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature