NASOPALATINE DUCT CYST AS A SWELLING IN A 22-YEAR-OLD MALE PATIENT: A CASE REPORT

The nasopalatine duct cyst is the most common nonodontogenic cyst of the oral cavity, diagnosed especially between the fourth and sixth decades of life and generally detected by routine radiographs. A 22-year-old man presented a painless swelling in the anterior region of the maxilla, with a history of a previous lesion 8 years before but without previous histological examination. Computed tomography revealed a well-delimitated hypodense area, and an excisional biopsy was performed with the hypothesis of a dentigerous cyst. Microscopic examination revealed a pathologic cavity covered by both ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium and a stratified squamous epithelium. The capsule was characterized by an extensive area of fibrous connective tissue, with a proliferation of vascular vessels, fibroblasts, and collagen fibers. Additionally, hyaline cartilage and nerve bundles were found. Combining clinical and histologic findings, the diagnosis of nasopalatine duct cyst was established. The patient was lost to follow-up during the pandemic.