“Just another Sebaceous Cyst?”-An Epidermoid Cyst of Head & Neck Region: A Case Report

Case Report

J Dent & Oral Disord. 2018; 4(1): 1082.

“Just another Sebaceous Cyst?”-An Epidermoid Cyst of Head & Neck Region: A Case Report

Boricha V*, Shetty N, Vachhani D, Bangera D and Surabhi V

Department of Oral & Maxillo-Facial Surgery, A.J. Institute of Dental Sciences, Kuntikana, Karnataka, India

*Corresponding author: Vishalkumar Boricha, Department of Oral & Maxillo-Facial Surgery, A.J. Institute of Dental Sciences, Kuntikana, Karnataka, India

Received: December 12, 2017; Accepted: January 30, Published: February 06, 2018

Abstract

Epidermoid cysts are developmental, benign, cutaneous cysts which rarely occurs in head and neck region. They constitute 1.6 to 6.9% of all cysts in the head and neck area. Here we report a case of 34 year old male patient with two swellings on his right neck region. Ultrasonography of the lesion was suggestive of sebaceous cyst. Complete excision of lesion was carried out and sent for histopathological examination. On the basis of clinical and histopathological features, a final diagnosis was given as an epidermoid cyst for both the swellings.

Keywords: Epidermoid cyst; Head & Neck Region; Ultrasonography

Introduction

Epidermoid cysts are developmental, benign, cutaneous cysts which are commonly found on scalp followed by trunk1. These cysts are the benign cystic malformations that are derived from the ectoderm.

They rarely occur in neck region and constitute 1.6 to 6.9% of all cysts in the head and neck area. They represent less than 0.01% of all cysts of the oral cavity [1,2].

An epidermal cyst is derived from epidermis, and is formed by cystic enclosure of epithelium within the dermis that becomes filled with keratin and lipid-rich debris1. They are slow growing lesions and remain asymptomatic until or unless secondarily infected.

Diagnosis is mostly by clinical examination and by ultrasonography which is frequently used in initial stages to confirm the cystic nature of the lesion [3,4]. Excision biopsy is carried out followed by the confirmatory diagnosis.

Treatment for these lesions is surgical excision of the cyst (Nicollas et al.; Golden & Zide). Recurrence after surgery is rare. A malignant evolution has only been seen in the teratoid type and was reported to have an incidence of 0.5% [2].

Case Presentation

A 34 year old male reported to the department with two swellings on the right side of the neck. Both the swellings were present since 12 years. The swellings were asymptomatic and insidious in onset. There was no history of trauma or any discharge. On examination the first swelling was present inferiorly to the lower border of the mandible measuring 15x20 mm. Second swelling was present on the right lateral side of neck; anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle measuring 20x20 mm.

On palpation, the swellings were soft, non-tender, and fluctuant. The swellings were not adherent to the skin. Ultrasonography was done and it was suggestive of sebaceous cyst/epidermoid inclusion cyst for both the swellings. Complete excision of the lesions was done and it was sent for histopathological examination. Final diagnosis was given as epidermoid cyst based on clinical and histopathological features for both the swellings (Figure 1).

Citation:Boricha V, Shetty N, Vachhani D, Bangera D and Surabhi V. “Just another Sebaceous Cyst?”-An Epidermoid Cyst of Head & Neck Region: A Case Report. J Dent & Oral Disord. 2018; 4(1): 1082.