A Rare Case of Midline Suprahyoid Dermoid Cyst

Abstract

Dermoid cysts are congenital tumours which are usually not paid any attention at the time of presentation and later on, they catch the patient’s attention. 40% of dermoid cysts get diagnosed by birth and 60% by five years of age. These are benign in nature. Only 5% have shown malignant transformation which is very rare. These are said to be ectodermal in origin embryologically. These are usually seen in the midline, as these are the site of embryonic fusion. These benign lesions are present as single or multiple throughout the body. For a surgeon, neck swelling is always a diagnostic challenge as it lies in close proximity to very important vital structures. In our case, a 33-year-old female presented to our Chettinad OPD with a painless swelling which turned to painful in due course of time and was located in the suprahyoid region in front of the neck. Our case is unique as the location of this mass was in the suprahyoid region which is usually a very rare location for dermoid cysts. Hence, during differential diagnosis, all surgeons should keep in mind that dermoid cysts have different presentations and locations, one of which happens to be a suprahyoid mass.