Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Intramuscular hemangiomas of extraocular muscles are extremely rare tumors that usually present as retro-orbital masses causing proptosis. We describe a previously unreported presentation, in the form of an epibulbar mass; this easily accessible location allows direct imaging, complete surgical resection, and histopathological confirmation, providing a unique perspective. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old woman presented with a painless dark red mass in the lateral part of the right eye, which had been slowly enlarging over the last 18 months. Clinical features and imaging were suggestive of a benign vascular tumor of the conjunctiva. During surgical resection, the mass was observed to be enmeshed within the fibers of the lateral rectus muscle. Careful dissection from muscle fibers was needed for complete excision. Histopathology revealed the diagnosis of an intramuscular hemangioma of extraocular muscle. CONCLUSION: In this report, we describe the atypical anterior epibulbar presentation of intramuscular hemangioma of the lateral rectus muscle. We discuss the differential diagnoses and management of this rare tumor along with a review of existing literature. Careful surgical resection achieved complete resolution in this case without recurrence.