Dermoid Cyst

A dermoid cyst is a benign cutaneous developmental anomaly that arises from the entrapment of ectodermal elements along the lines of embryonic closure. These benign tumors are lined by stratified squamous epithelium with mature skin appendages found on their wall and their lumens filled with keratin and hair. Dermoid cysts are considered to be congenital, but not all of them are diagnosed at birth. Only about 40% of dermoid cysts are diagnosed at birth, while about 60% of the dermoid cysts are diagnosed by five years of age. The dermoid cysts usually present within the first year of life and grow slowly. Dermoid cysts occur most commonly on the head and neck, with 84% of these cysts occurring in this region.