Dermoid cyst:
- Etiology: Epithelial tissue implanted into another structure
- Commonly: Face, inside skull, lower back, ovaries
- Clinical: Mature skin with sweat glands, hair follicle, sebum, blood, fat, bone, cartilage, nails, teeth
- Benign, solitary, expand slowly due to accumulation of epithelial debris and glandular secretion
- Non tender
- Can rupture
Epidermoid cyst: Lined with stratified squamous epithelium, no skin appendages, don’t rupture
Branchial (lymphoepithelial) cyst:
- Rare
- Upper lateral neck, anterior border of sternocleidomastoid muscle
- Etiology: Developmental
- Clinical: Asymptomatic, soft, 1-10cm, fluctuant swelling
- Lab: Histopathology
- Management: Surgical removal
- Differentials: Dermoid cyst, lymphadenopathy, sialadenitis, salivary gland tumor
Thyroglossal duct cyst:
- Central neck
- Moves when swallowing
- Between hyoid and thyroid
- Management:
- Thyroid function test incase absent thyroid gland – thyroid scintigraphy
- Surgical removal – Sistrunk operation
- High recurrence rate
Cystic hygroma/ lymphangioma:
- Anterior and posterior triangle of neck
- Etiology: Developmental
- Clinical: Birth to 3 years, large cystic spaces, large soft swelling of neck
- Management: Surgical removal for esthetic and respiratory problems
- Differentials: Branchial cyst, lymphadenopathy, parotitis, submandibular sialadenitis
DentMistry 