H Cramer1, H Lampe, P Downing. 1. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dermoid cyst of the floor of the mouth is a rare, benign lesion requiring surgical intervention. To our knowledge, the preoperative diagnosis of this entity by fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology has not been previously reported in the cytologic literature. CASE: The patient presented with a massive swelling of the floor of the mouth that displaced the tongue superiorly. A computed tomographic (CT) scan demonstrated a cystic lesion thought to be consistent with a lymphangioma. FNA was performed without complications and demonstrated numerous anucleated and some nucleated squames consistent with a diagnosis of dermoid cyst. Establishment of the correct diagnosis by FNA enabled the surgeon to proceed with the appropriate operation; that outcome might not have been possible had the erroneous CT diagnosis of lymphangioma been trusted. CONCLUSION: A preoperative diagnosis of dermoid cyst of the floor of the mouth was established by FNA. In contrast to reports in the older literature, the FNA procedure caused no complications. In patients presenting with lesions of the floor of the mouth, FNA should be the diagnostic procedure of first choice.
BACKGROUND:Dermoid cyst of the floor of the mouth is a rare, benign lesion requiring surgical intervention. To our knowledge, the preoperative diagnosis of this entity by fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology has not been previously reported in the cytologic literature. CASE: The patient presented with a massive swelling of the floor of the mouth that displaced the tongue superiorly. A computed tomographic (CT) scan demonstrated a cystic lesion thought to be consistent with a lymphangioma. FNA was performed without complications and demonstrated numerous anucleated and some nucleated squames consistent with a diagnosis of dermoid cyst. Establishment of the correct diagnosis by FNA enabled the surgeon to proceed with the appropriate operation; that outcome might not have been possible had the erroneous CT diagnosis of lymphangioma been trusted. CONCLUSION: A preoperative diagnosis of dermoid cyst of the floor of the mouth was established by FNA. In contrast to reports in the older literature, the FNA procedure caused no complications. In patients presenting with lesions of the floor of the mouth, FNA should be the diagnostic procedure of first choice.