Intraosseous Epidermal Cyst of the Distal Phalanx: A Case Report

Abstract

Epidermal cysts are common benign tumors of the skin, but intraosseous epidermal cysts at the phalanx are rare.1,2) Congenital anomalies, trauma, and iatrogenic factors are reported as etiological causes. Phalangeal epidermal cysts commonly involve the distal phalanx. Epidermal cysts occur at periosteal soft tissue and invade the bone, resulting in circular or discoid bony destruction. Treatment involves a combination of curettage and bone grafting, and it has a good prognosis, with a low recurrence rate. 1) Intraosseous epidermal cysts are too rare to be of primary concern. However, it is important to rule out other more common diseases of the distal phalanx that present with similar clinical manifestations and radiological findings.We conducted curettage and bone grafting in 2 cases of intraosseous epidermal cysts of the distal phalanx and obtained good results clinically and radiologically at 1 year follow-up.Case Report Case 1An 11 year-old girl attended our clinic with a mass in the left 4thfinger. She detected the mass 4-5 years earlier, and it had gradually increased in size. She had visited a primary clinic for aggravating pain 2-3 months earlier and was referred to our hospital following An intraosseous epidermal cyst is a rare benign cystic lesion. It is thought to result from congenital factors or trauma and can lead to bone destruction because the cyst develops at the soft tissue around the bone. Radiological findings of intraosseous epidermal cysts are a welldefined radiolucent lesion, with cortical expansion. It is important to differentiate an intraosseous epidermal cyst with other disease developed at distal phalanx because its clinical and radiological findings are similar. We report two rare cases of intraosseous epidermal cysts that developed at the distal phalanx. Key words: intraosseous epidermal cyst, distal phalanxCopyrights ©

Distal Phalanx Intraosseous Epidermoid Cyst

“…Rarely, a benign lesion might transform into a malignant lesion. 11 Intra-lesional curettage with or without bone graft is the surgical treatment for epidermoid inclusion cysts. It is possible to expect a smooth recovery with no signs of recurrence during short-term follow-up.…”