Abstract
Background: Dermoid and/or epidermoid cysts are a relatively rare disease. The incidence rate of dermoid and/or epidermoid cysts of the oral area is about 0.01% among all cystic lesions in the oral cavity. We have treated many patients with cleft lip and palate since 1993 and met some cases diagnosed with dermoid and epidermoid cyst after lip plasty.
Subjects: We performed a retrospective study of 848 cleft lip and palate patients treated in Aichi-Gakuin University Hospital, Cleft Lip and Palate Center from 1993 to 2005. Seven patients developed a cyst on the upper lip after lip plasty and/or lip replasty operation, and their pathological diagnosis was dermoid or epidermoid cyst. We evaluated the association between the technique of lip plasty and the etiology of dermoid and epidermoid cysts.
Results: Seven patients were cleft lip cases (3 cases were cleft lip only, and 4 cases were cleft lip and palate). Regarding cleft type, 3 cases were bilateral and 4 cases were unilateral (the right side in one case, and the left side in 3 cases). All these cysts occurred near to the surgical site.
One case was diagnosed as a dermoid cyst, 5 cases as an epidermoid cyst, and one case as a mixed cyst. In 4 cases, a Santos flap was used in primary lip plasty.
Discussion: We suspect that the incidence of dermoid and/or epidermoid cyst is high when using a Santos flap. Upper lip cysts may occur as a complication after lip plasty.
