Cystic orbital schwannoma: A surgeon’s surprise

Schwannomas, also known as neurilemmomas, are benign, encapsulated tumors arising from Schwann cells. Solitary orbital schwannomas are rare, comprising only 1% of orbital neoplasms. We report a case of a 53-year-old woman with unilateral proptosis, radiologically suspected as an intraconal lymphangioma due to fluid levels. Complete surgical excision was performed, and histopathology revealed a cystic schwannoma. This case emphasizes the importance of considering schwannomas in the differential diagnosis of intraconal cystic orbital lesions and highlights the role of histopathological examination in establishing a definitive diagnosis, especially in atypical presentations.