Dermoid cyst and epidermoid cyst usually arise as midline swellings in the floor of the mouth. We report a rare case of epidermoid cyst that arose in the left side of the root of the tongue. A 47-year-old man was referred to our department because of a painless mass in the left lateral aspect of the root of the tongue. Clinical examination showed an exophytic mass measuring 6 × 4 mm near the left lingual tonsil. Excisional biopsy was performed with the patient under local anesthesia. Histopathologically, the mass was diagnosed as an epidermoid cyst. No recurrence has occurred as of 1 year after excision.
