Epidermoid Cysts of Head and Neck Region: Case Series and Review of Literature

Abstract

SUNIL, S.; OOMMEN, N.; RATHY, R.; REKHA, V. R.; RAJ, D. & SRUTHY V. K. Epidermoid cysts of head and neck region -Case series and review of literature. Int. J. Odontostomat., 8(2):165-169, 2014.ABSTRACT: Epidermoid and dermoid cysts are hamartomas localized on the neck, head, or trunk, usually visible at birth. In some instances, careful medical examination may help to find most epidermoid and dermoid cysts. Ambiguity about their exact pathogenesis exists and dysontogenetic, traumatic, and thyroglossal anomaly theories have been postulated. Histopathologically epidermoid cysts have a cystic capsule lined with thin stratified epithelium. Surgical excision though completes the treatment, complications have been reported. We report three cases of epidermoid cyst on the maxillofacial region.

Epidermal cyst of the mandible: a case report

“…Epidermal cysts are usually associated with areas of embryonic fusion, these are benign and can present anywhere on the body. Epidermal cysts are thought to arise secondary to sequestration of epidermal rests during embryonic life, occlusion of sebaceous ducts or traumatic implantation of epithelial elements.…”

“…The most common soft tissue sites are ovaries and testicles (80%) and most common intraosseous site is phalanges. Head and neck epidermal cysts account for about 1.6–6.9%. There are seven cases of epidermal cysts reported in the English literature affecting the mandible with history of trauma in four of them.…”

“…Rarely malignant changes have been reported including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and Bowen's disease. The cysts predominantly occur in the 3rd or 4th decade except in Gardner syndrome where the average age is 13 years. The radiologic differential diagnosis of unicystic lesions of the ramus of the mandible includes extraneous‐type odontogenic keratocyst, unicystic ameloblastoma, aneurysmal bone cyst and traumatic bone cyst.…”

“…Dermoid and epidermoid cysts in the head and neck are hamartomas present since birth. There incidence ranges between 1.6 to 6.9% and only 1.6% thought to affect intraoral sites. These represent 0.01% of all cysts affecting the oral cavity.…”

“…There incidence ranges between 1.6 to 6.9% and only 1.6% thought to affect intraoral sites. These represent 0.01% of all cysts affecting the oral cavity. There are seven reported cases of intraosseous epidermal cysts in the oral cavity in English literature, of these five were in the mandible (four were post‐traumatic inclusion cysts and one was true intraosseous epidermal cysts).…”