Excision of an extensive epidermal cyst in the submental region: clinical case report

Abstract

Epidermoid cysts are benign subepidermal cysts that are fluctuant, presenting structures resembling skin appendages. This encapsulated cyst is filled with liquid or semi-liquid material commonly located on the face, neck and trunk. They are characterised by shows slow growth, painless, asymptomatic and not greater than 5 cm in most cases. The treatment consists of surgical enucleation of the lesion. Objective: To report a case of an extensive epidermoid cyst in the submental region of a young male, describing the approach and its clinical and histopathological aspects with post-op follow-up. Case report: 18 years-old male presents at the Maxillofacial Surgery Department, with the main complaint of swelling in the submental region, for the past 2 years. He underwent surgical excision of the lesion followed by pathological analyse, which returned positive for an epidermal cyst. Conclusion: The differential diagnosis of the epidermoid cyst can vary according to the region in which the lesion develops. It is important to conduct a thorough examination of the patient, and consider complemental tests to attempt the best management for better results.