Dermoid Cyst: Outcome Analysis in a Pediatric Referral Hospital

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the management of dermoid cysts in a pediatric referral hospital. Methods: Retrospective review of 115 patients with pathological diagnosis of dermoid cyst in a pediatric referral hospital between 2003 and 2019. Results: One hundred fifteen patients, 51 (44.3%) males, and 64 (55.7%) females were retrospectively reviewed. There were fifty-one (44.3%) right eyes and 64 (55.7%) left eyes. Mean age at surgery was 39.15 months (5.6 months–16.4 years). One hundred four (90.4%) lesions were superficial, and 11 (9.6%) were deep. Quadrant location was 63 (54.8%) superior-temporal, 45 (39.1%) superior-nasal, 4 (3.5%) inferior-temporal, and 2 (1.7%) in the nasal inferior quadrant. Most patients only had aesthetic concerns, but 3 (2.61%) showed lacrimal drainage obstruction symptoms, 2 (1.74%) had proptosis, and 1 case spontaneously drained to the cutaneous surface. Imaging was performed in 51 (44.3%) patients. Regarding to their radiodensity, 71.9% had low density content, 28.1% high density, and only 1 patient showed full liquid content; 10.9% showed heterogeneous content; 53.1% showed bone remodeling. Every patient but 1 underwent surgery for a barely accessible asymptomatic retrobulbar cyst. Nine cysts (7.8%) were breached during surgery. Three recurrences were found (2.6%), but only 1 was related to intraoperative breach. Conclusions: Dermoid cysts are the most common benign periorbital tumors in the pediatric population. Imaging is required for evaluation of lesions in atypical locations, deep or fixed to underlying tissue. Surgical removal is the gold standard of treatment. Multidisciplinary approach may be required in the most complex cases. After surgery, few complications and recurrences were found in our series.

Nasal Dermoid Cyst: A Case Report

“…Encephalocele is usually found at the occiput, dorsal nose, orbit, or forehead. It is characterized by an increase in size when the child cries, compressibility to palpation, and a positive transillumination test [5,6,11].…”

“…It can also occur anywhere on the skin, deep under the skin, or in the interosseous space [ 5 ]. The most common location is in the orbital ridge region, with no association or deep extension [ 3 , 6 ]. Approximately 3% of DCs are located in the nasal midline, including the glabella, nasal dorsum, and columella.…”

“…A nasal glioma is an ectopic, neuroectoderm from early development that presents as a firm, noncompressible, flesh-colored nodule. It is typically found at the root of the nose [ 6 , 9 ]. In contrast, an encephalocele is a herniation of cranial contents through a defect in the skull.…”

“…In contrast, an encephalocele is a herniation of cranial contents through a defect in the skull. It is formed when the separation of the neuroectoderm from the surface ectoderm fails during embryogenesis [ 6 , 10 ]. Encephalocele is usually found at the occiput, dorsal nose, orbit, or forehead.…”