Cutaneous dermoid cyst in Adult
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Synopsis

Non-cutaneous dermoid cysts can be found inside the skull, spine, and reproductive organs.
Codes
ICD10CM:D23.9 – Other benign neoplasm of skin, unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
201325006 – Dermoid cyst of skin
Look For
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Encephalocele – can also be found in the glabella area where dermoid cysts can be found; typically transilluminate, compressible / soft, and bluish in color
- Nasal glioma – can also be found in the glabella area; typically a firm nodule that is uncompressible and red
- Epidermal inclusion cyst / epidermoid cyst – dermoid cysts lack the overlying punctum seen in epidermoid cysts but may have an ostium
- Pilar cyst are firm and well circumscribed on palpation
- Pilomatricoma
- Nasolacrimal cyst
- Infantile hemangioma – compressible, red / purple, and follows typical growth pattern
- Hemangiopericytoma – typically inside the brain, but occasionally found on the head / neck, extremities, pelvic area
- Neurofibroma
- Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy
- Mesenchymal hamartomas (eg, lipoma, chondromesenchymal hamartoma)
- Teratoma
- Deep vascular lesion
- Sarcoma (rhabdomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma) and neuroblastoma can present during infancy in rare cases
Best Tests
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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References
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Last Reviewed:07/28/2021
Last Updated:08/05/2021
Last Updated:08/05/2021