Management of infected nasal dermoid cysts and sinuses

This study investigates outcomes of surgical management of pediatric patients with nasal dermoids with prior infection. A retrospective review at Nationwide Children's Hospital, a large free-standing pediatric hospital in the Midwestern USA, was performed. Patients were identified by the Current Procedural Terminology codes 30124 (simple excision of dermoid cyst) and 30125 (complex excision of nasal dermoid cyst) from 2011 to 2016. Demographic, imaging data, surgical findings, microbiological data and recurrence rates were collected for these patients. Descriptive statistical investigation was performed. In total, 14 patients were identified, 4 of the 14 patients (28.5%) had recurrent infection and required additional surgery. Three of seven patients required incision and drainage prior to definitive excision. One of seven patients in the infected group had recurrence. Prior infection does not increase the recurrence rate and almost half of the patients required I&D prior to definitive management.