A case of large dermoid cyst of the tongue

• Published in: Egyptian journal of ear, nose, throat and allied sciences Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 171 - 174
• Main Authors: Mehri Turki, Imen, Mouaffak-Zidi, Yosr, Rajhi, Hatem, Triki, Hassen, Naija, Sonia, Ben Jilani, Sarra, M’Niff, Najla, Adouani, Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Elsevier B.V 01-11-2011; Egyptian Society of Ear, Nose, Throat and Allied Science
• Subjects: Dermoid cyst; Diseases; Magnetic resonance imaging; Surgery; Tongue; الأمراض; Dermoid cyst; Tongue; Magnetic resonance imaging; Surgery
• ISSN: 2090-0740; 2090-3405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejenta.2011.10.001

We report a case of a large dermoid cyst of the tongue with a review of the literature.
We present a 14-year-old boy who presented an enlarging tongue with slight difficulty of speech. Complete excision of the cyst through an intra-oral approach was possible when aspiration of the fluid cyst was done at the moment of surgery.
Dermoid cysts are squamous epithelial-lined cavities with variable number of skin adnexae in the capsule. We discuss clinical, radiological and histological presentation, aetioliogy, and surgical management of these rare entities in head and neck.
Although dermoid cysts are rare they should be part of the differential diagnosis of tongue masses. The surgical management depends on the size and the extension of the intra-lingual cyst in the floor of the mouth. The aspiration of the fluid cyst to reduce its size is helpful without any complication.