Floor-of-Mouth Dermoid Cysts: Report of 3 Variants and a Suggested Change in Terminology

PurposeDermoid cyst is a frequently used descriptive term, but its definition changes according to the clinician (eg, dermatologists, neurologists, gynecologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and plastic surgeons). It is sometimes used synonymously with teratoma. In oral and maxillofacial surgery, it is applied to describe congenital floor-of-mouth cysts of 3 histologic types: epidermoid, dermoid, and teratoid. This terminology is confusing and has led to some ambiguity in the literature. The purpose of this report is to document 3 cases illustrating the utility of a more specific term, congenital germline fusion cyst of the floor of the mouth.Patients and MethodsPatients who presented with floor-of-mouth swelling were evaluated by history, clinical examination, and imaging studies (magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography).ResultsThree cases (1 epidermoid variant, 1 dermoid variant, and 1 teratoid variant) are documented to illustrate the new terminology.ConclusionCongenital germline fusion cyst is more reflective of the embryologic origins of the lesion than dermoid cyst and is inclusive of all 3 histologic variants.