EPIDERMOID CYST OF THE PAROTID GLAND: A RARE CASE

Abstract

Faiz Muqtadir1 , Anil Doddamani2 , Harish M. O 3 , Mallikarjunaswamy4

Epidermoid cysts are benign lesions, characterized by cystic spaces lined by simple squamous epithelium (epidermal cyst), containing skin adnexa ("true" dermoid cyst) or tissues of all three germ layers (teratoid cyst). 7% of all cases of epidermoid and dermoid cysts are seen in the head and neck. There is often a diagnostic dilemma with the more common cystic lesions of this region. The most common are the epidermal cysts which present as nodular and fluctuant subcutaneous lesions and they are seen mainly in the acne - prone areas like the head, neck and the back. The presence of benign cystic lesions in the salivary glands is extremely rare. We are reporting a rare case of a 12-year old female child who presented with a soft swelling on the left side of the face. A diagnosis of an epidermoid cyst was given on cytology. An enucleation of the cyst was performed and the histopathology confirmed the above diagnosis.

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