gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: The epidermoid cyst of the mouth floor represents an unusual clinical ENT entity. The cysts usually grow in the middle line and they count as types of soft-tissue benign tumors (teratomas). Women are usually affected. These cysts appear mainly in the submental region especially located in the submandible and sublingual area, which can raise diagnostic questions and problems.

Case Report: We report the case of a 62year old patient with a progressive, slow-growing, swelling of the mouth floor. The patient mentions a distortion of vowels and throat complains and because of obstructive sleep apnea, she was additionally using a C-PAP mask.

Examination of the neck revealed a non-tender, soft, non-transilluminant swelling of the front edge of the mouth floor, which at the beginning was thought to be a ranula.

Ultrasonography of the neck revealed a big tumor, well-circumscribed, echogenic cystic lesion which was coudal- submental displaced.

A needle biopsy from the cyst showed nothing suspicious concerning a malignancy.

Discussion: The diagnostic surgical approach and the histology examination of the lesion resulted in an epidermoid cyst.