We describe a mucous cyst in the submandibular region of a child that was considered to be a congenital lateral cervical cyst.
A 6-year-old boy was referred to our department on April 5, 1990 by a general dentist. His chief complaint was swelling in the left submandibular region. The patient's past medical history and family history were noncontributory. The left submandibular swelling had been noticed since November 1988. On clinical examination, a mass (50×30×30mm) was recognized in the swelling. It's border was clearly demarcated, and it did not have a wavy feeling or tenderness. Based on the clinical findings, the lesion was suspected to be a congenital lateral cervical cyst. Under general anesthesia, enucleation of the cyst was performed on July 31, 1990. The cyst wall was thick. Pathological examination revealed a mucous substance in the cyst, and the minor salivary glands were close to the cyst wall. The dibgnosis was therefore a mucous cyst. There has been no recurrence as of 3 years after operation. The cyst was suspected to be a mucous cyst that originated from an ectopic salivary gland.
