Atypical congenital dermoids of the face: A 25-year experience

We report on 28 patients with less common facial dermoids. They presented as a cyst, sinus or both and may be separated into four groups. Group 1 (18 cases) were in the midline on the nose and many (12) had extensions to the septum but only two to the skull base. Group 2 (two cases) were paramedian nasal lesions and one extended through the nasal bones. Group 3 were lesions around the medial orbital wall, and two of these had tracts extending into the orbit. Group 4 were a miscellaneous group of lesions on the cheek and lips. We observed that preoperative imaging, although useful and done mainly for medico-legal reasons, may not detect deep extensions and therefore surgeons should be prepared for a more involved procedure when removing atypical facial dermoids.