H. Cramer et al., DERMOID CYST OF THE FLOOR OF THE MOUTH DIAGNOSED BY FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY - A CASE-REPORT, Acta cytologica, 40(2), 1996, pp. 319-326
BACKGROUND: Dermoid cyst of the floor of the mouth is a rare, benign l
esion requiring surgical intervention. To our knowledge, the preoperat
ive diagnosis of this entity by fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology
has not been previously reported in the cytologic literature. CASE: Th
e patient presented with a massive swelling of the floor of the mouth
that displaced the tongue superiorly. A computed tomographic (CT) scan
demonstrated a cystic lesion thought to be consistent with a lymphang
ioma. FNA was performed without complications and demonstrated numerou
s anucleated and some nucleated squames consistent with a diagnosis of
dermoid cyst. Establishment of the correct diagnosis by FNA enabled t
he surgeon to proceed with the appropriate operation; that outcome mig
ht not have been possible had the erroneous CT diagnosis of lymphangio
ma been trusted. CONCLUSION: A preoperative diagnosis of dermoid cyst
of the floor of the mouth was established by FNA. In contrast to repor
ts in the older literature, the FNA procedure caused no complications.
In patients presenting with lesions of the floor of the mouth, FNA sh
ould be the diagnostic procedure of first choice.