Postauricular epidermoid and dermoid cysts in adults

Abstract

Abstract Background Compared with other cutaneous cysts of the head and neck region, postauricular epidermoid and dermoid cysts are rare, asymptomatic benign swellings. Aim To describe the clinical profile of postauricular dermoid and epidermoid cysts in adults. Patients and Methods A descriptive retrospective study was conducted on patients older than 16 years, diagnosed histologically with postauricular epidermoid and dermoid cysts who presented to the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria, from January 2005 to December 2017. Results A total of eight patients were reviewed: two (25%) males and six (75%) females. The age ranged from 22 to 55 years (mean age, 30.1±11.2 years). Most cases (seven, 87.5%) were epidermoid cysts. The mean duration of cystic swellings was 9.8±5.7 years. All the patients presented with asymptomatic postauricular extracranial cysts mostly at the left postauricular side (five, 62.5%). Complete surgical excision was carried out for all the lesions, and no recurrence was observed in the two (25%) patients who came for follow-up; the rest were lost to follow-up. Conclusion Postauricular cysts, mostly epidermoid cyst, are rare unilateral asymptomatic, extracranial swellings that are associated with a delay in seeking medical intervention.

Keywords

• dermoid cyst
• epidermoid cyst
• postauricular swellings