INTRAORAL EPIDERMOID CYST WITH EXTENSIVE ELASTOFIBROMATOUS CHANGES: AN EXTREMELY RARE FINDING

Abstract

Epidermoid cysts (ECs) are rare and occur in the head and neck region with an incidence from 1.6% to 7%. In the oral cavity, EC represents less than 0.01% of all cysts. To date, approximately 80 EC cases have been reported. We report a case of a 26-year-old man who developed a large EC in the midline floor of the mouth, leading to speech and swallowing difficulties and causing swelling in the submental region. Ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration confirmed the cystic nature of the lesion. The lesion was surgically excised by intraoral approach, and microscopically revealed an EC associated with extensive elastofibromatous changes in the cystic capsule. The pathogenesis of the abnormal deposition of elastic fibers is unknown; however, degenerative phenomenon, disturbed production, genetic predisposition, or trauma have been considered. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of elastofibromatous changes in an intraoral EC.