Cutaneous cysts of the head and neck

This article reviews the types of cutaneous cysts in patients referred to the Facial Lesion Clinic at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, TX, and proposes effective treatment modalities based on lesion and patient variables. Cyst variables included proper identification, size of the lesion, and acute or chronic processes. Patient considerations included age, skin type, and location. Medical and social histories were not noted.

Eighty-two patients who had 1 or more cysts removed over the 5-year period from July 15, 1998 to July 14, 2003 were reviewed for age, gender, histologic diagnosis, anatomic location of the lesion, and complications.

Patients with epidermal inclusion cysts (79%), followed by pilar cysts (9%), hidrocystomas and dermoid cysts (3% each), and multiple other diagnoses (less than 2%) were treated. Neither complications nor recurrent infections were reported during the 5-year interval. There were no recurrent cyst formations noted by return appointment.

Cystic lesions of the head and neck may be treated effectively as long as they are correctly identified and treated in a specific manner.