epidermal inclusion cyst

Epidermal inclusion cysts or epidermal cysts are common cutaneous lesions that represent proliferation of squamous epithelium within a confined space in the dermis or subdermis.

Terminology

These are occasionally termed sebaceous cysts, although this is a misnomer as the lesion does not originate in the sebaceous glands. As such, the term epidermal inclusion cyst is preferred.

These are also called epidermoid cysts, which in turn are sometimes considered a type of dermoid cyst .

Clinical presentation

Epidermal cysts are either found incidentally or present as a firm non-tender lump. If they rupture a local inflammatory response to the necrotic debris released can mimic infection. Although they can be found anywhere, they are typically located on the scalp, face, neck, trunk, and back . Rarely they can be seen within bones representing an intraosseous epidermoid cyst .

Rarely epidermal cysts can undergo malignant degeneration with squamous cell carcinoma .

Pathology

They are thought to occur as a result of :

• traumatic/surgical implantation
• occlusion of the pilosebaceous unit
• congenital rests of cells
• human papillomavirus type 57 or 60 infections implicated palmoplantar epidermoid cysts

They are closely related to cholesteatomas, and should not be confused with epidermoid cysts of the CNS.

Radiographic features

On all modalities, they appear as well-circumscribed masses arising in or just deep to the skin.

Ultrasound

Well-circumscribed predominantly hypoechoic mass. Typical shapes include :

• ovoid to spherical: ~70%
• lobulated: ~20%
• tubular: ~8%.

If small, it can mimic a typical anechoic cyst. Using subcutaneous fat as a reference, lesions tend to be hypoechoic. Larger lesions can be a little heterogeneous due to the presence of mucoid, fat, calcification or pus. Usually no associated vascularity. They, however, can have a variable appearance if ruptured, occasionally associated with vascularity and lobulated contours. On color Doppler, it may show twinkling artefact .

CT

The density of epidermal inclusion cysts is similar to that of water. The margins are usually slender and sclerotic.

MRI

Imaging on MRI is similar to that of CNS epidermoid cysts or cholesteatomas, namely the content of the cyst is similar to CSF/water. In unruptured cases, typical signal characteristics include:

• T1: low/intermediate signal
• T2: high signal
• DWI
  • some true restricted diffusion (similar to soft tissue on ADC)
  • superimposed T2 shine through
• T1 C+ (Gd)
  • no enhancement centrally
  • may have thin peripheral enhancement

With ruptured cases, they may have septa, show thick and irregular rim enhancement, and can be accompanied by a fuzzy enhancement in surrounding subcutaneous tissues.

Treatment and prognosis

They are benign and generally do not require treatment. If infected they may require incision and drainage. If they continue to grow they may require excision.

Complications

• superimposed infection
• rupture
• concurrent occurrence of tumors within them, e.g. melanoma (very rare) 

Differential diagnosis

General imaging differential considerations include:

• pilomatricoma
• ganglion cyst (if near a joint)
• neurogenic tumors e.g. neurofibroma
• nodular fasciitis
• myxoid tumors
• dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans

See also

• breast epidermal cyst
• epidermoid cyst

Siehe auch:

• intrakranielle Epidermoidzyste
• Neurofibrom
• Epidermoid in der Kalotte
• intraventricular epidermoid
• Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
• Ganglion (Überbein)
• cystic teratoma
• Atherom Galea
• epidermale Inklusionszyste der Mamma
• Epidermoidzyste vs Dermoidzyste
• Epidermoidzyste Finger
• Fasciitis nodularis
• testicular epidermoid cyst
• kutane Metastasen
• atheroma
• Malherbe-Tumor

und weiter:

• Arachnoidalzyste
• Mega Cisterna magna
• Cholesteatom
• Epidermoidzyste
• Pinealiszyste
• Gardner-Syndrom
• Rathke Zyste
• Dandy-Walker continuum
• Tumor Kleinhirnbrückenwinkel
• Dermoidzyste
• Ecchordosis physaliphora
• neuroglial cyst
• Keimzelltumor
• Cholesteatom des äußeren Gehörgangs
• Akroosteolyse
• testicular epidermoid
• erworbenes Cholesteatom
• Dermoid Schädelkalotte
• Epidermoid
• intraossäre Epidermoidzyste
• congenital cholesteatoma
• ependymal cyst
• hypothalamic lesions
• diffusionsgewichtete Bildgebung
• Blake's-Pouch-Zyste
• ASP-Assoziation
• periurethral cystic lesions
• Epidermoidzyste im Kleinhirnbrückenwinkel
• Galealipom
• mostly / purely cystic pituitary region masses
• epidermoid cyst of the cauda equina
• zystische Läsionen in der Hypophyse
• Steatocystoma multiplex
• diffusion MRI of an epidermoid tumor
• white epidermoid
• calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe
• Läsionen der Fingerspitze
• mikrozystisches Meningeom
• epidermale Inklusionszyste
• Klestadt Cyst
• Epidermoidzyste der Kalotte
• cystic extraaxial mass
• zystische Läsionen der Sellaregion
• Neoplasien der Cauda equina
• sutural epidermoid cyst
• cutaneous epidermal cyst
• extratestikuläre intraskrotale Epidermoidzyste
• epidermale Inklusionszyste der Zunge
• Merkspruch Keimzelltumoren