Lingual cyst with respiratory epithelium: a histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of two cases

Cysts of the tongue are rare, usually derived from epithelia of the embryonic gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, and classified according to the predominant epithelium lining. These cysts are usually discovered during infancy, more frequently in males, but they may not appear until well into adulthood. The authors report two lingual cysts lined mainly with respiratory, and focally by squamous, epithelium. Periodic acid-Schiff and mucicarmine staining revealed focal positivity in intracystic mucoid material and goblet cells. Immunohistochemical analysis with vimentin, cytokeratins (AE1/AE3, 34betaE12, CK1, CK5, CK6, CK7, CK8, CK10, CK13, CK14, CK16, CK18, and CK19), E-cadherin, beta-catenin, and epithelial membrane antigen showed a similar profile of normal respiratory epithelium, suggesting well-differentiated states. Owing to their controversial origin, these cysts should be named descriptively, as suggested by Manor et al., as lingual cysts with respiratory epithelium.