Nasolabial Cyst: A Case Report

Abstract

Nasolabial cysts (NCs) are rare, non-odontogenic developmental cysts of the soft tissue, accounting for approximately 0.7% of all non-odontogenic cysts. These lesions predominantly affect women between the fourth and fifth decades of life, with a predilection for individuals of African descent. We report a case of a 50-year-old woman presenting with swelling adjacent to the right nostril, associated numbness, and aesthetic concerns. Radiographic examination revealed a peripheral soft tissue lesion anterior to the right maxilla that had destroyed the lateral nasal wall and anterior maxillary border, with extension into and partial obstruction of the right nasal cavity. Histopathological examination of the excised specimen revealed a cyst measuring 10×20mm with a 3mm wall thickness. The cyst was lined by squamous epithelium with areas of stratified cuboidal epithelium, surrounded by fibrous connective tissue containing mild chronic inflammatory infiltrate, blood vessels, and fat cells. The lesion was successfully treated by surgical enucleation through an intraoral approach. This case highlights the importance of considering nasolabial cysts in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue swellings in the nasolabial region, despite their rarity. Accurate diagnosis requires careful clinical examination, appropriate imaging, and histopathological confirmation to distinguish these lesions from odontogenic and other non-odontogenic entities. Keywords: Nasolabial cyst; Non-odontogenic cyst; Developmental cyst; Enucleation.