Dermoid Cysts of the Lateral Floor of the Mouth: A Comprehensive Anatomo-Surgical Classification of Cysts of the Oral Floor

Dermoid cysts result from defective embryonic development (dysontogenic) and represent cysts filled with keratinous sebum-like material with evidence of skin derivatives. Dermoid cysts of the floor of the mouth (DCFOMs) comprise only 1.6% to 6.5% of all body dermoid cysts 1 New G.B. Erich J.B. Dermoid cysts of the head and neck. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1937; 65: 48 Google Scholar , 2 Taylor B.W. Erich J.B. Dockerty M.B. Dermoids of the head and neck. Minn Med. 1966; 49: 1535 PubMed Google Scholar , 3 Rapidis A.D. Economidis J. Goumas P.D. Tumours of the head and neck in children: A clinicopathological analysis of 1007 cases. J Craniomaxillofac Surg. 1988; 16: 279 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (52) Google Scholar and account for 23% to 34% of head and neck dermoids. 2 Taylor B.W. Erich J.B. Dockerty M.B. Dermoids of the head and neck. Minn Med. 1966; 49: 1535 PubMed Google Scholar , 4 Reddy V.S. Radhakrishna K. Rao P.L. Lingual dermoid. J Pediatr Surg. 1991; 26: 1389 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (23) Google Scholar The floor of the mouth is the second most common site of DCFOMs in the head and neck region after the lateral eyebrow. 2 Taylor B.W. Erich J.B. Dockerty M.B. Dermoids of the head and neck. Minn Med. 1966; 49: 1535 PubMed Google Scholar , 5 Howel C.J.T. The sublingual dermoid cyst Report of five cases and review of the literature. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1985; 59: 578 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (66) Google Scholar The vast majority of DCFOMs are located in the midline (sublingual 52%, submental 26%), 16% involve more than 1 of the 3 possible spaces in the floor of the mouth region (submental, sublingual, submandibular), and only 6% are situated exclusively in the submandibular space (ie, appear to be lateral neck cysts). 6 King R.C. Smith B.R. Burk J.L. Dermoid cyst in the floor of the mouth Review of the literature and case reports. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1994; 78: 567 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (106) Google Scholar