Diagnosis and surgical management of nasopalatine duct cysts

Nasopalatine duct cyst also known as nasopalatine cyst is a developmental, epithelial, non-neoplastic cyst that is considered to be the most common nonodontogenic cyst in the maxillofacial region. It is one of the many pathologic processes that may occur within the jaw bones, but it is unique in that it develops in only a single location--in the midline anterior maxilla. Nasopalatine cysts are usually asymptomatic and may be discovered during routine clinical and/or radiologic examination. The current study reports 18 cases of nasopalatine duct cyst that were diagnosed and treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Ramadi Teaching Hospital, Anbar Province, Iraq. A correct diagnosis can only be made after proper clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic examination.