Epidermoid cysts: an exclusive palatal presentation and a case series

Abstract

Besides the previously reported locations, we present the first case occurring in the hard palate, measuring 5 x 3 cm in size along with melanin pigmentation.

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.…”

“…There is only one report case in the literature of EOC localised in the hard palate that presented as a lobulated mass without any bone involvement 6. We report the first case of EOC localised in hard palate with bone involvement.…”

“…Epidermoid cysts can occur anywhere in the body; about 7% of them can be found in the head and neck region, and only 1,6% within the oral cavity 5 7. In the oral cavity, they mainly affect the floor of the mouth, lateral tongue, lateral pharyngeal wall and soft palate, and only a case report was reported by Ravindranath in the hard palate 6 7. Differently from that case where EOC presented as a lobulated mass, brownish pink in colour, without any bone involvement, the case here presented proved to have an intraosseous localisation.…”

“…They represent less than 0,01% of all oral cavity cysts and mainly affect the floor of the mouth, lateral tongue, lateral pharyngeal wall and soft palate 5–7. There is only one report case in the literature of EOC localised in the hard palate that presented as a lobulated mass without any bone involvement 6.…”

Unusual sites of dermoid cysts

“…4 Ravindranath et al reported epidermoid cyst to be most common in the lateral side of the neck and gingiva followed by the forehead region. 5 Dhabholkar et al reported 3 cases of dermoid cysts out of which 2 were located in the floor of the mouth and another in the midline of the neck. 6 Ultrasonography is the best investigation for these types of cyst.…”