Congenital heterotopic gastrointestinal cyst of the oral cavity in a neonate: case report and review of literature

Abstract

Heterotopic gastrointestinal cysts of the oral cavity are rare benign lesions which may mimic both benign and malignant neoplasms. These cysts are usually discovered during infancy, but may not appear until well into adulthood. This lesion involves the tongue and floor of the mouth in 97% of cases and has a male predilection. The cyst may range in size from less than 1 cm to 9 cm, with most lesions being 1–3 cm in size. About 30% of affected individuals have symptoms related to difficulties with feeding, swallowing and respiration. The epithelial lining is quite variable, but all cysts have an enteric lining. The histogenesis is related to entrapment of undifferentiated, noncommitted endoderm within the oral cavity during the 3rd–4th week of fetal life. The purpose of this paper is to report a congenital heterotopic gastrointestinal cyst of the oral cavity presenting in a neonate. The clinical and histopathologic features of this cyst are reviewed, as well as the histogenesis of this lesion.