Epidermoid Cyst of the Buccal Mucosa: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Epidermoid Cysts (ECs) are rare, benign cystic lesions that result from surface epithelium entrapment or, more frequently, from abnormal infundibular epithelium repair following a flare-up of follicular inflammation. They occur anywhere on the body, but are more commonly found on the neck, scalp and torso. In the head and neck region, ECs constitute 7% out of which only 1.6% are reported in the oral cavity. The most common sites for oral ECs include the floor of the mouth, lips, palate, tongue and jaws. Here, we present a case of EC of the buccal mucosa in a 21-year-old male. The patient reported with a swelling on the right buccal mucosa. After clinical examination, it was diagnosed as a cystic lesion. The lesion was excised under general anaesthesia. Histopathological examination showed the presence of keratinised stratified squamous epithelium and a cystic lumen filled with keratin. There was no evidence of dermal appendages. Hence, a final diagnosis of EC of the buccal mucosa was made. The ECs are common in the skin (scalp, back, trunk) but rare in the oral cavity. The novelty of the case lies in the extremely rare intraoral occurrence of an EC in the buccal mucosa, a site seldom reported in the literature. Thereby, highlighting the importance of considering this entity in the differential diagnosis of buccal swelling like mucocoele, lipoma, fibroma and minor salivary gland adenoma.