Epidermoid cysts are generally benign neoplastic lesions, the etiology of which is unclear and is mainly related to epithelial cells left in the tissues during the embryonic period and traumatically implanted in the tissues. The most common intraosseous sites are the phalanges and the skull. Epidermoid cysts occurring in the jaws are clinically rare. In this paper, we report a case of epidermoid cyst occurring in the mandible with embedded teeth and discuss the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of epidermoid cysts in the jaws in the context of the relevant literature.
Humans ; Epidermal Cyst/surgery* ; Skull ; Mandible ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epithelial Cells

BACKGROUND: Epidermal cysts are benign, slow growing cysts that often develop on the head, neck, chest, and back of adults. The most common method of surgical excision involves the use of a scalpel and often leaves a scar proportional to the size of the cyst. Therefore, minimally invasive techniques are required. Among these techniques, the CO2 laser-based technique is minimally invasive and has lower complication rate, shorter recovery times, and lesser scarring. This paper aimed to compare the results and postoperative complications associated with a CO2 laser-based excision against conventional surgical excision for epidermal cysts. METHODS: We surveyed 120 patients, aged 16 to 65 years, with epidermal cysts on the face measuring 0.5 to 2.2 cm in diameter. Twelve months later, we compared the scar length, recurrence rate, patient satisfaction, and complications between patients treated with CO2 laser excision versus surgical excision. RESULTS: The mean scar length (12 months postoperative) after CO2 laser excision was 0.30± 0.15 cm, and that following surgical excision was 1.23± 0.43 cm (p= 0.001). The procedure time (time from incision after local anesthesia to the end of repair) was 16.15± 5.96 minutes for CO2 laser excision versus 22.38± 6.05 minutes for surgical excision (p= 0.001). The recurrence rates in the surgical excision group and CO2 laser excision group were 3.3% and 8.3%, respectively; this difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.648). CONCLUSION: The cosmetic outcome of CO2 laser excision is excellent. For epidermal cysts measuring 2.2 cm or smaller, CO2 laser excision is recommended, especially when aesthetic outcome is considered important.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Local ; Cicatrix ; Epidermal Cyst ; Head ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas ; Methods ; Neck ; Patient Satisfaction ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Surgery, Plastic ; Thorax

A 33-year-old man presented with a painless, non-growing left testicular mass for five years. Preoperative ultrasonography (US) of the scrotum showed a small, circumscribed calcific mass in the right testis and another well-defined heterogeneous echoic mass with a partially calcified wall in the left testis, with avascularity on colour Doppler US. These imaging findings in a clinical setting of non-growing testicular masses were highly suggestive of epidermoid cysts, thus leading to testis sparing surgery. Histopathology confirmed bilateral epidermoid cysts. To the best of our knowledge, only 15 cases of bilateral epidermoid cysts have been reported. We discuss the US features of epidermoid cyst and its surgical management, as well as various cases of testicular masses.
Adult ; Biopsy, Needle ; Education, Medical, Continuing ; Epidermal Cyst ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Risk Assessment ; Testicular Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Testis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore a better operative approach to resect complicated pelvic retroperitoneal tumors.

METHODSA total of 28 patients with complicated pelvic retroperitoneal tumors who received surgical resection in our hospital from 2006 to 2010 were included in this study. The surgical operation was assisted with an arc-shaped transperineal incision in front of the apex of coccyx. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, death toll and length of hospital stay of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe median operation time was 122.5 minutes. The median blood loss was 420 ml, and the median length of hospital stay of the patients was 17.5 days. There was no postoperative death in this group of patients.

CONCLUSIONWith the assistance of this arc-shaped transperineal incision in front of the apex of coccyx, the resection of pelvic retroperitoneal tumors can be effectively improved and the surgery risk is reduced.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Coccyx ; surgery ; Epidermal Cyst ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Pelvic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Retrospective Studies ; Teratoma ; pathology ; surgery

Epidermoid tumor of the cavernous sinus is rare. The aim of this case report is to discuss the role of neuroendoscopes in the removal of such lesions. A 21-year-old man presented with 6-year history of progressive headache, diplopia, and visual disturbance. Work-up revealed an epidermoid tumor located in the right cavernous sinus. An extradural transcavernous approach was utilized via a traditional frontotemporal craniotomy with endoscopic assistance. The postoperative course was uneventful with immediate improvement of the patient's headache. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated complete removal of the tumor. There were no signs of recurrence during a 2-year follow-up period. The endoscope is a useful tool for removing epidermoid tumors from the cavernous sinus and enhances visualization of areas that would otherwise be difficult to visualize with microscopes alone. Endoscopes also help minimize the retraction of neurovascular structures.
Adult ; Cavernous Sinus/*pathology/*surgery ; Endoscopy/*methods ; Epidermal Cyst/*pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery/*methods ; Young Adult

Splenic epidermoid cysts are relatively rare lesions traditionally treated by splenectomy. Concerns about overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis have led to the development of splenic preservation procedures in the treatment of cystic diseases of the spleen. Better understanding of the splenic segmental anatomy and advances in laparoscopic skills has made laparoscopic partial splenectomy a preferred treatment for splenic cysts while preserving splenic function. We reported a case of a 30-year-old male patient with a large epidermoid splenic cyst managed successfully by laparoscopic partial splenectomy. The patient recovered well after operation and was asymptomatic on a follow-up of 1 year with no recurrence on ultrasonography and a normal platelet count. Laparoscopic partial cystectomy is an acceptable procedure for the treatment of splenic cysts which locate in the pole of spleen. On the one hand, it cures the disease preserving the splenic tissue without risk of bleeding or recurrence; on the other hand, this minimally invasive technique induces a reduced hospital stay and a more rapid recovery.
Adult ; Epidermal Cyst ; surgery ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Splenic Diseases ; surgery

Bone Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Chronic Disease ; Epidermal Cyst ; etiology ; surgery ; Femur ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteomyelitis ; complications

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical features, diagnostic and therapeutic experiences of presacral developmental cysts.

METHODSClinical data of 22 patients with presacral developmental cysts underwent tumor excision surgery from January 1989 to December 2008 was retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSIn this group, 8 male and 14 female patients were included with a median age of 29.5 yrs (18 - 72 yrs) at diagnosis. The mean diameter of the cysts was (8.3 + or - 2.7) cm. Of the cases, 6 patients presented with epidermoid cysts, 4 cases with dermoid cysts and 12 cases with teratomas (2 with malignant change). Surgical approaches included the trans sacrococcygeal approach (18 cases), the transabdominal approach (3 cases), and the combined transabdominal-sacrococcygeal approach (1 case). The operative duration and blood loss of each operative approach was as follows: modified Kraske's procedure (142 + or - 43) min/(192 + or - 149) ml, Mason's procedure (102 + or - 27) min/(54 + or - 37) ml, transabdominal procedure (147 + or - 25) min/(117 + or - 76) ml, combined approach 360 min/1000 ml. In the trans sacrococcygeal group, 1 case (6.3%) of intra-operative presacral vein bleeding and 1 case (6.3%) of the surgical incision infection occurred. One case in the combined approach group suffered from incision infection. No significant complication was found in the transabdominal group. The patients were followed up for 9-92 months (mean, 40 months) and meanwhile the tumor relapsed in 2 cases in 20 patients with benign lesions: one patient underwent trans sacrococcygeal surgery and the other received transabdominal surgery.

CONCLUSIONSThe presacral developmental cysts develop slowly with a tendency toward malignancy. And delayed treatment brings much more difficulties to the surgical excision, so it should be radically excised once diagnosed. The trans sacrococcygeal approach is a preferable surgical procedure with direct access, minimal operative injuries and complications; and the combined transabdominal-sacrococcygeal approach could be employed when needed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cysts ; surgery ; Dermoid Cyst ; surgery ; Epidermal Cyst ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrococcygeal Region ; Teratoma ; surgery ; Young Adult

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is almost always induced by vascular compression but in some cases the cause of HFS are tumors at cerebellopontine angle (CPA) or vascular malformations. We present a rare case of hemifacial spasm caused by epidermoid tumors and the possible pathogenesis of HFS is discussed. A 36-year-old female patient presented with a 27-month history of progressive involuntary facial twitching and had been treated with acupuncture and herb medication. On imaging study, a mass lesion was seen at right CPA. Microvascular decompression combined with mass removal was undertaken through retrosigmoid approach. The lesion was avascular mass and diagnosed with an epidermoid tumor pathologically. Eventually, we found a offending vessel (AICA : anterior inferior cerebellar artery) compressing facial nerve root exit zone (REZ). In case of HFS caused by tumor compression on the facial nerve REZ, surgeons should try to find an offending vessel under the mass. This case supports the vascular compression theory as a pathogenesis of HFS.
Acupuncture ; Adult ; Cerebellopontine Angle ; Epidermal Cyst ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hemifacial Spasm ; Humans ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Vascular Malformations

Endoscopy ; methods ; Epidermal Cyst ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Skull Base ; pathology