Recent Trends in the Management of Thornwaldts cyst: A Case Report

Abstract

Tornwaldt’s cyst is a benign cyst located in the upper posterior nasopharynx. It is a relatively rare lesion and most are small and asymptomatic whereas some cause nasal obstruction, postnasal drip, occipital headache or eustachian tube dysfunction. In our case a 28- year-old man presented with nasal obstruction since 10-years whose diagnostic nasal endoscopy showed a large well-encapsulated lesion arising from the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed which was suggestive of a fluid filled cystic lesion. The patient underwent successful marsupialisation using endonasal endoscopic approach using rigid endoscopes and powered instrumentation. Histopathology of the aspirate revealed a respiratory lined epithelial cyst. Based on the clinical, radiological and histopathological findings a diagnosis of Tornwaldt’s cyst was made. We report this case to highlight the role of MRI in diagnosis and use of endoscopic assisted powered instrumentation for treatment of Tornwaldt’s cyst.

Keywords

• marsupialisation
• nasal obstruction
• tornwaldt’s cyst