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Children's health

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Original poster

Dermoid cyst at my baby's eye

14 replies

tweety89 · 21/02/2012 14:50

My DD has a dermoid cyst between the left eye and the eyebrow and the opthalmologist suggested that she has an operation to remove it as it will probably grow as the baby grows older. I have an app with him on Thursday to explain what needs to be done (apparently she needs to have an MRI scan to confirm that the cyst is not connect to the brain (!)) and then we will see how we will proceed. Does she need to have twice general anaesthesia? Anyone had a similar experience?

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cheekyginger · 21/02/2012 22:17

I work in an eye clinic so might be able to help a little.

Young babies do need to have a GA for getting MRI's as they are too wriggly otherwise. And yes your DD will need to have another GA to remove the cyst. The anaesthetists will make sure these procedures are as safe as possible.

Original poster

tweety89 · 22/02/2012 09:14

Thank you for the clarification. She's allergic to nuts and to something else (not sure what yet, some kind of fish maybe?) so I'm a bit nervous about this. Will they check first that she is not allergic to any type of anaesthesia or they would go ahead anyway? Thanks again. :)

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cheekyginger · 22/02/2012 18:04

I don't think there is generally a risk of allergery to the anaesthesia. But they have specialist paediatric anaesthetists that deal with young ones. I imagine you will get a chance to ask prior to any GA

Original poster

tweety89 · 23/02/2012 08:55

thank you very much for your advice. I hope the specialist tells us good news (as good as they can be) today.

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moajab · 24/02/2012 22:58

I don't know if this is relevant to you especially if you've already had your appointment, but my DS had a dermoid cyst a little bit higher than your DDs, on his eye brow. He did not have an MRI, the surgeon diagnosed just by touch. We were told it should be removed, but when we asked if we could delay it for a couple of years we were told that was fine. He had the operation when he was 3, under GA. While it was worrying for us, it is a very minor operation, we came home an hour after the op and by the next day he was back to normal. A couple of years on the scar is unnoticable unless you already know it's there! Good luck!

Going2bamum · 25/02/2012 09:46

My little boy is 5 months old and he has one, he had to have a scan!! We are going to meet with the plastics but I'm going to see if we can delay it til he's a bit older cause I think he's to young for GA

Reenypip · 25/02/2012 12:41

How big is it?
My baby boy has got a little tiny lump/spot between his eye and eye brow, which has been there for months.

moajab · 26/02/2012 23:08

I first noticed the lump when DS was a few weeks old and I would say it was pea sized. By the time they operated aged 3 I would have described it as marble sized. When the GP first looked at it he just told us to come back in 6 months to see if it had changed. After 6 months he felt it was bigger and so referred us onto the plastic surgeon - he was about 18 months at the time. we opted to wait a bit longer, as like Going2bamum we felt he was too young for a GA, when there was no medical need. I think problems can arise if it's left into adulthood as they can suddenly grow bigger. Also our surgeon said there were more risks to the facial nerves if the operation was done on an adult.

Original poster

tweety89 · 27/02/2012 12:22

I saw the specialist again (the same one that had diagnosed the dermoid cyst) and by touch (as yours, moajab) he said that there is no tail, so he's happy to perform the op without the MRI scan. I'm just going to wait for the letter now. The only difference with ours was that in Jan it was described as 'lentil-sized' whereas now it's definitely a pea size and he told me that it might suddenly grow and get infected. Obviously the consultant informed me of all the risks and I have to say I'm a bit more nervous than before, so thank you very much for your encouragement! :)

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Original poster

tweety89 · 27/02/2012 13:24

Also, moajab, did you notice any change in colour? It seems a bit darker to me now, however, since it's under the eye brow it might be just hair (?)

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Original poster

tweety89 · 16/05/2012 22:52

update: we are going for the operation on Friday; fingers crossed everything is going to be ok... :S

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ilovehugs · 16/05/2012 23:35

No knowledge of this but hopefully I can reassure you about the GA's. My DD (4.5) has had 4 GA's - 4 months, 6 months, 8 months, 3 years. I was horrified when i first discovered she would have to have surgery, but let me reassure you GA is INCREDIBLY safe. They are so careful with babies/children. A consultnat is present for every GA. On the surgical ward, I witnessed tiny babies having multiple GA's in the space of a few weeks. x x x

Original poster

tweety89 · 17/05/2012 13:22

thank you very much for this. i really need this kind of reassurance. I hope your DD is doing well now.
unfortunately the surgery was postponed until the 29th of May now as DD has been coughing for the last couple of days and the anaesthesiologist wasn't happy to proceed with it tomorrow. :( more wait, more stress...

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moajab · 18/05/2012 23:56

I wont say "don't worry" because I know I was a nervous wreck and didn't sleep for a week before DS had his op! But be reassured by the anaesthetist - they just don't want to take the slightest risk. Your DD would probably have been fine today, but they wont risk it. So when they do do the op you will know that she is in the best condition or it.
Have they told you how long the operation will take? We were told it would take 'minutes' which I interpreted as being about 15 - 20 minutes. So I was anxious by 25 minutes, very nervous by 30 and practically climbing the walls by 40 (and even DH was pacing about nervously) but there was no problem. Just the surgeon being extra careful. Apparently the lump was well attached to his skull! So don't panic if the op takes a bit longer than you expect.

I'm sorry you are being kept waiting longer when you just want it to be all over. But it will be soon. And your DD will bounce back from her GA in no time! Sadly no cure for the extra grey hairs on our heads though!

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