[Infected dermoid and epidermoid cysts in the maxillofacial region. Differential diagnosis and therapy]

More than 30% of the patients with dermoid and epidermoid cysts treated on an in-patient basis during the last 10 years in the Düsseldorf Hospital for Jaw and Plastic Surgery showed symptoms of acute or chronic inflammation. The difficulties involved in the clinical diagnosis of infected dermoid or epidermoid cysts were illustrated by example cases. Infected dermoid and epidermoid cysts may be mistaken for ondontogenous abscesses, infected atheromas, furuncles, superinfected tumors, and specific inflammations.