Keratin-filled pseudocyst on the ventral surface of the tongue suggesting ducts of lingual gland origin

Abstract

A 10-month-old girl was referred to our hospital for a mass on the ventral surface of the tongue. The mass was removed surgically.
Histopathological examination of the lesion indicated an “epidermoid cyst” in some sections. However, the cyst wall was continuous with the epithelium of the ventral surface of the tongue, and the multiple-layered squamaus epithelium cells of the wall contained goblet cells. In addition there were abundant minor salivary glands and excretory ducts around this leasion. The lesion was diagnosed as a keratin-filled peudocyst arising in the excretory ducts of the minor salivary gland.