Nasolabial cyst in a patient with cleft lip and alveolus: A case report

The nasolabial cyst, a rare lesion involving the soft tissues of the maxillofacial region, commonly occurs in middle-aged females. These cysts usually present as soft, fluctuating growths in the sublabial folds, and are seen as swellings between the upper lip and nostril. Modern radiographic methods aid in the diagnosis of these cysts. There is an ongoing debate regarding the origin of nasolabial cysts, as there are two schools of thought: some believe that these cysts originate from fissural cysts, while others are of the opinion that they originate from remnants of the nasolacrimal groove. Herein, we present a rare case of a nasolabial cyst occurring in a 13-year-old girl treated for unilateral cleft lip and alveolus, using bone grafts nearly 5 years after lip and nose revision surgery. This contradicts with the previous theory regarding the origin of nasolabial cysts from fissural cysts. Despite indications that the cyst may have originated from remnants of the nasolacrimal groove, in the present study, trauma, infection or other unknown factors may have contributed to the pathogenesis of the nasolabial cyst.