eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Pediatric Diseases

Dermoid Cyst: Treatment & Medication

Author: Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Coauthor(s): Zbigniew Ruszczak, MD, PhD, Consultant Dermatologist and Allergist, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Consultant in Wound Healing and On-Site-Drug Delivery Systems; Visiting Consultant in Dermatology and Dermatopathology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jul 17, 2009

Treatment

Surgical Care

Surgical excision is the treatment of choice in any localization.

  • Surgically remove dermoid cysts.
  • In some patients, surgery should be performed even more carefully than usual because the fatty content of the cyst may spread to the surrounding tissues or anatomic structures, especially if the cyst is infected with bacteria. The spread of these contents can cause foreign body reactions and severe complications.
  • Minimally invasive surgical techniques have been successful in removing dermoid cysts from difficult locations, such as those on the tongue or the floor of the mouth. Intralingual dermoid cysts lead to lingual motility defects and speech problems. These cysts should be surgically removed to restore normal lingual function and to correct speech problems.
  • Intracranial, intramedullary, and ovarian dermoid cysts are difficult to treat. Sophisticated neurosurgical or gynecologic surgical techniques are often needed to remove the dermoid cyst and prevent possible complications.
  • In some patients with dermoid cysts on the forehead and brow, successful excision with endoscopy-assisted surgery have been described.28
    • In the reported cases, no complications (eg, paresthesia or numbness on the scalp) occurred.
    • The absence of visible scarring is an additional advantage of endoscopy-assisted surgery.
    • Angular dermoid cyst excision using an eyelid crease approach may yield excellent cosmesis.29

More on Dermoid Cyst

Overview: Dermoid Cyst
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Dermoid Cyst
Treatment & Medication: Dermoid Cyst
Follow-up: Dermoid Cyst
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Zbigniew Ruszczak, MD, PhD, Consultant Dermatologist and Allergist, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Consultant in Wound Healing and On-Site-Drug Delivery Systems; Visiting Consultant in Dermatology and Dermatopathology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark
Zbigniew Ruszczak, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, New York Academy of Sciences, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Albert C Yan, MD, Section Chief, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Dermatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania
Albert C Yan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Pediatrics, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Society for Pediatric Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

David F Butler, MD, Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic
David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH, Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Glen H Crawford, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital
Glen H Crawford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of USAF Flight Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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