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CLINICAL CASE
Dent. Med. Probl. 2009, 46, 4, 506–508
ISSN 1644−387X
© Copyright by Wroclaw Medical University
and Polish Stomatological Association
JOLANTA WOJCIECHOWICZ, ANDRZEJ STODÓŁKIEWICZ
Epidermoid Cyst of the Floor of the Mouth
in a 34−Year−Old Woman – Case Report
Torbiel naskórkowa dna jamy ustnej u 34−letniej kobiety
– opis przypadku
Department of Oral and Maxillo−Facial Surgery of the Medical University in Lublin, Poland
Abstract
The study describes the aetiology of epidermoid cyst and the case of the cyst localized in the floor of the mouth of
a 34−year−old woman treated and operated in The Department of Oral and Maxillo−Facial Surgery of the Medical
University in Lublin. The type of cyst was confirmed histopathologically (Dent. Med. Probl. 2009, 46, 4, 506–508).
Key words: epidermoid cyst, dermoid cyst, treatment, diagnosis.
Streszczenie
W pracy omówiono etiopatogenezę torbieli naskórkowej i przypadek jej wystąpienia w okolicy dna jamy ustnej,
u 34−letniej pacjentki leczonej i operowanej w Klinice Chirurgii Szczękowo−Twarzowej UM w Lublinie, potwier−
dzony badaniem histopatologicznym (Dent. Med. Probl. 2009, 46, 4, 506–508).
Słowa kluczowe: torbiel naskórkowa, torbiel skórzasta, leczenie, diagnoza.
Both epidermoid and dermoid cysts develop as
a result of the dislocation of single cells of the ou−
ter germ layers of the epidermis or dermis during
the closure and formation of body cavities, inside
the developmental fissures. Post traumatic etiopa−
thogenesis of the epidermis dislocation inside the
tissues is also known, especially in the case of epi−
dermoid and intraosseous cysts. The epidermoid
cyst of the floor of the mouth develops from the
embryonic persistent epithelial nests at the site of
the II and III branchial arch junctions at the back
of the tongue between the muscles of the floor of
the mouth. It is built of the layer of epidermis rest−
ing on the delicate coat of the connective tissue the
maturity of which is similar to the epidermis. The
cyst consists of corneous mass, forming concentric
lamellas as well as cholesterol. Epidermoid cyst
unlike the dermoid cyst does not include such ele−
ments as hair, hair follicles, sebaceous or sweat
glands. The development of the change is slow,
asymptomatic and, most frequently, it is clinically
diagnosed in patient’s adult years. The described
case confirms the most frequent age span in which
the above mentioned changes occur – between the
age of 23 and 30, with no sex preference. Clinical−
ly, the epidermoid cyst causes moderately painful
prominence in the oral floor of soft and elastic
consistency which makes it difficult to eat, speak
and in extreme cases also to breathe. The localiza−
tion of the cyst below the geniohyoid muscle gives
visual effect of the ‘double chin’. The treatment of
choice in this type of change is a complete surgi−
cal removal, most frequently with the extraoral
section. No neoplastic transformation in this type
of change is observed; however, recovering occur
after the incomplete removal of the change [1–7].
Case Report
The patient B.G. aged 34, case history No 08−
12943/347 admitted to the Clinic of Oral and Ma−
xillo−Facial Surgery of the Medical University in
Lublin in May 2008 because of the tumour of the
floor of the mouth. As the patient states, she noti−
ced the change in December 2007. Initially, it was
507
Epidermoid Cyst of the Mouth
a small swelling in the submental region, then
a prominence in the floor of the mouth (Fig. 1).
The patient did not complain of any pain, just the
discomfort while swallowing, speaking and eating.
In her general health state history there was hyper−
thyroidism diagnosed 2.5 years before, presently
in the state of euthyreosis, being controlled by en−
docrinologist. The clinical examination on the day
of admission revealed the prominence in the floor
of the mouth which was soft, elastic and painless as
well as considerable swelling in the submental re−
gion, covered with unchanged soft tissue (Fig. 2).
Fig. 1. Profile of the patient prepared for the surgical
procedure – so called double chin effect
Ryc. 1. Profil pacjentki przygotowanej do zabiegu
operacyjnego, widoczny tzw. efekt drugiej brody.
Tkanki miękkie okolicy podbródkowej są modelowane
przez torbiel
A tumour was movable with reference to the sur−
rounding tissues and smooth surface, cohesive,
about 7 cm in diameter.
Essential diagnostics of the lesion was introdu−
ced and the USG examination of the submental re−
gion was performed as well as CT scan with the
contrast medium of the oral cavity and neck. In the
CT scan, within the floor of the mouth, a round
area with the diameter of 40x57 was found and flu−
id density around 20−30JH which did not intensify
the contrast, though, revealing a smooth outline
and molding the adjacent tissues. Submandibular
and cervical lymph nodes as well as the osseous
structures did not reveal any pathological changes.
After the performance of blood and urine tests,
including thyroid hormones level and internist
consultation the patient was qualified to the opera−
tive procedure in general anaesthesia.
The operative procedure of the tumour removal
was carried out with endotracheal intubation thro−
ugh the inferior nasal passage, by the extraoral in−
cision along the internal edge of the dental arch
(34–46), exposing part of a wall of a large cyst.
A decision of additional extraoral incision in the
submental region was made because of extensive−
ness of the change and its expansion over the ge−
niohyoid muscle. A large tumour with a diameter
of 8 cm, with comparatively thin capsule filled
with grainy brown mass was enucleated and sent to
histopathological examination (Fig. 3). After the
surgery, tight suturing of the mucosa was perfor−
med in the oral cavity, a Redon drain was placed at
the site of extraoral incision and then removed after
two days. No complications in the post−operative
healing of wound were observed. On the fifth day
after the surgery, the patient was discharged form
the hospital in general and local good health state.
The result of histopathological examination No
56652 was cystis epidermalis fundi cavi oris.
The successive control examinations showed
no relapse of the change.
Fig. 2. Elevation of the oral floor caused by growing cyst
Ryc. 2. Uniesienie dna jamy ustnej, spowodowane przez
rozrastającą się torbiel
Fig. 3. Cyst after removal
Ryc. 3. Zmiana po usunięciu
508
J. WOJCIECHOWICZ, A. STODÓŁKIEWICZ
Discussion
Cysts of the soft tissues in the submental re−
gion, not damaging the osseous tissue are most fre−
quently not revealed in review radiograms. Data
concerning the extensiveness of a change, its loca−
lization and relation to other organs can be obtai−
ned by the use of contrast radiography. It conside−
rably facilitates planning of the operative proce−
dure. Clinically, these cysts are oval or round
tumours of various sizes slowly proliferating and
painlessly molding adjacent tissues. In time, they
make it difficult to speak and swallow. They also
cause shortness of breath because of exerting the
pressure on epiglottis. They should be differentia−
ted in the clinical examination from sublingual sia−
locele, thyrolingual cyst, and neoplasms of the
tongue and the floor of the mouth, atheromateous
cyst, lipoma or displaced thyroid [8].
The treatment of choice is radical removal
with preservation of tumour capsule from the in−
tra− or extraoral incision. At the same time, the lat−
ter one performed as a cosmetic procedure in a na−
tural fold of skin definitely facilitates intraoperati−
ve visibility which results in the greater precision
of the surgery [1–8].
References
[1] GRZESIAK−JANAS G.; FOCZPAŃSKI J.: Torbiel naskórkowa dna jamy ustnej. Magazyn Stomat. 2004, 14, 2, 22–23.
[2] LEWANDOWSKI L.: Torbiele naskórkowe tkanek miękkich twarzy i kośćca szczęk. Detal Forum 2004, 31, 69–71.
[3] NIEDZIELSKA I., MRÓWKA M., DRUGACZ J.: Torbiel naskórkowa żuchwy. Opis przypadku i przegląd piśmiennictwa.
Poradnik Stomatol. 2004, 6, 4, 35–37.
[4] REYMONT J., PODSIADŁO M., KĘPA A., DERYŃSKA B., LINDA M.: Torbiele szczęk w materiale oddziału chirurgii
szczękowo−twarzowej radomskiego szpitala specjalistycznego w latach 1999–2002. Radomski Rocznik Lekarski
2003, 8, 77–82.
[5] ZELTSER R., MILHEM I., AZAZ B., HASSON O.: Dermoid cysts of floor of the mouth: report of four cases. Am. J. Oto−
laryngol. 2000, 21, 55–60.
[6] YILMAZ I., YILIMAZER C., YAVUZ H., BAL N., OZUOGLU L. N.: Giant sublingual epidermoid cyst: a report of two ca−
ses. J. Laryngol. Otol. 2006, 120, pp. E19.
[7] BARTKOWSKI S.: Chirurgia szczękowo−twarzowa, UJ, Kraków 1996, 164–165.
[8] DE PONTE F.S., BRUNELLI A., MARCHETTI E., BOTTINI D.J.: Sublingual epidermoid cyst. J. Craniofac. Surg. 2002,
13, 308–310.
Address for correspondence:
Jolanta Wojciechowicz
ul. Wyżynna 17/46
20−560 Lublin
Poland
Received: 3.07.2009
Revised: 7.09.2009
Accepted: 28.10.2009
Wpłynęło do Redakcji: 3.07.2009 r.
Po recenzji: 7.09.2009 r.
Zaakceptowano do druku: 28.10.2009 r.