Congenital Epidermoid Cyst Arising in Soft Palate Near Uvula: A Case Report

Abstract

Aberrant ectodermal tissues during the fetal period or acquired aberrant epithelial tissue due to trauma or surgery are thought to cause dermoid and epidermoid cysts. Their incidence is 7.0% in the head and neck region and only 1.6% in the oral cavity, where they mostly present in the floor of the mouth. On the other hand, they are extremely rare in the soft palate and uvula, and only six cases have been reported. Epidermoid cysts grow slowly and asymptomatically, and thus rarely cause oral dysfunction. However, cysts arising in the floor of the mouth can lead to developmental disorders due to impaired suckling and swallowing. This report describes a 4-week-old boy in whom an epidermoid cyst developed in the midline region of the soft palate close to the uvula. Decreased suckling ability led to a poor in body weight, so resection was performed at an early age. The histopathological diagnosis was epidermoid cyst.

A rare case of congenital epidermoid cyst of the hard palate

“…Pathogenically, EOC can be divided into congenital and acquired types, without any clinical or histologic differences 9. Acquired factors include aberrant epithelial components in deep tissue due to trauma, inflammation or surgical complications which may be mechanisms of onset,10 while congenital EOC develop from inclusion of ectodermal tissue during embryogenesis 6. Previous trauma or surgical intervention was not encountered in our case suggesting a congenital epidermal cyst.…”

Congenital Epidermoid Cyst Results in Muscle Fusion Defect in the Upper Lip

“…Although there are pediatric cases in the literature with epidermal cyst lesions in the sublingual region, gingiva, palate, and uvula, many of them had history of trauma or surgical intervention [1, 8, 10]. Total excision is the basic treatment for intraoral epidermal cystic lesions since needle aspiration or fenestration might enhance infection, pain, and complaints after treatment.…”

“…Dermoid or epidermal cysts arise from aberrant localization of epithelial component of ectodermal tissue in fetal life or aberrant inoculation of epithelial tissue after trauma or surgery [1]. These cysts can be encountered in any part of the body, but their prevalence is approximately 1.6–6.9% in the head-neck region and about 0.01% in the oral cavity [1–3].…”

“…These cysts can be encountered in any part of the body, but their prevalence is approximately 1.6–6.9% in the head-neck region and about 0.01% in the oral cavity [1–3]. In the literature, there are case reports comprising patients that presented with pain, speech disorder, or respiratory distress due to epidermoid cyst in the oral cavity, lower lip, or upper lip [4–7].…”

Epidermoid cyst localized in the palatine tonsil

“…[1] These lesions, which can be seen anywhere in the body, occur in the head and neck area in approximately 7% of cases. [23] Those in the oral cavity are mostly in the floor of the mouth (in the sublingual, submental or submandibular areas) and in various other localizations including the labial, lingual or buccal mucosa.…”