Nasolabial cyst in an elderly patient: A case report

Nasolabial Cyst (NC) or Klestadt's cyst is a relatively rare soft tissue developmental lesion of nasal alar region accounting for 0.7% of all non-odontogenic cysts. NC usually presents as an asymptomatic swelling located in the anterior region of the maxilla lateral to midline-resulting in obliteration of nasolabial sulcus, nasal vestibule and maxillary labial sulcus and facial asymmetry-often observed on early stages by most patients due to cosmetics issues.

A 76-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of an asymptomatic facial swelling in the left upper lip region lasting 20 years. Extraoral clinical examination showed a left-sided swelling lateral to midline near to the alar base resulting in facial asymmetry. Intraoral clinical examination revealed the presence of a single painless well-defined nodular, sessile, non-tender swelling covered by normal oral mucosa, and located in the upper labial mucosa in the left incisor's region. An excisional biopsy was performed, and microscopic examination revealed a cystic cavity lined by cuboidal to columnar epithelium with mucous cells. The underlying connective tissue showed chronic inflammatory infiltrate close to muscular tissue. Patient recovery was uneventful, and there are no signs of local recurrence in a 2-year clinical follow-up.

Clinicians should consider NC when evaluating an upper lip swelling extending to the nasolabial region of the elders.