Challanging Management of a Giant Sublingual Dermoid Cyst Rapidly Enlarged Throughout Pregnancy and Influence of Hormonal Factors

Massimo Mesolella, Elena Cantone, Vieri Galli, Maurizio Iengo

ENT Department, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/ss.2013.43041                

Abstract

The authors present a case with a sublingual giant dermoid cyst, rapidly enlarged during pregnancy, which showed itself with deglutition and mild respiratory problems. Dermoid cysts (DCs) are benign lesions arising from entrapment of epithelial rests during embryogenesis. They are most frequently located in the ovaries and testes. Up to 6.9% are found in the head and neck and 1.6% within the oral cavity, representing less than 0.01% of all oral cavity cysts. They usually present early in life as asymptomatic masses with slow and progressive growth. However, they may reach a large size with a potential impact on deglutition, speech, and respiration. It is suggested that the rapid growth of DCs during pregnancy is associated with the increase of plasma levels of estrogens and progesterone. In order to eliminate respiratory and deglutition issues, it was decided to perform the surgical excision after a cesarean delivery at 29th week.

Keywords

Dermoid Cyst; Sublingual Mass; Airway Obstruction; Pregnancy; Estrogens; Progesterone

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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