Skin Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Skin Cancer, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

Cutaneous cysts of the head and neck.

Golden BA, Zide MF

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

PURPOSE: This article reviews the types of cutaneous cysts in patients referred to the Facial Lesion Clinic at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, TX, and proposes effective treatment modalities based on lesion and patient variables. Cyst variables included proper identification, size of the lesion, and acute or chronic processes. Patient considerations included age, skin type, and location. Medical and social histories were not noted. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients who had 1 or more cysts removed over the 5-year period from July 15, 1998 to July 14, 2003 were reviewed for age, gender, histologic diagnosis, anatomic location of the lesion, and complications. RESULTS: Patients with epidermal inclusion cysts (79%), followed by pilar cysts (9%), hidrocystomas and dermoid cysts (3% each), and multiple other diagnoses (less than 2%) were treated. Neither complications nor recurrent infections were reported during the 5-year interval. There were no recurrent cyst formations noted by return appointment. CONCLUSION: Cystic lesions of the head and neck may be treated effectively as long as they are correctly identified and treated in a specific manner.

Published 24 October 2005 in J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 63(11): 1613-9.
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