title: Evaluation of nasoalveolar cysts for the facial plastic surgeon.
abstract: Asymmetrical alar flare without a history of trauma, surgery, or congenital clefting is extremely rare; therefore, a thorough investigation into the underlying reasons for the asymmetry should be undertaken before a unilateral alar base resection is performed. Nasoalveolar cyst is a readily apparent diagnosis that should not be missed after proper intranasal and intraoral examination. Excision is recommended via a sublabial approach. We describe a patient in whom a unilateral alar base reduction was initially recommended, when in fact she had a nasoalveolar cyst. We also discuss the histologic characteristics, embryological pattern, and differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Facial Plastic Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Edmund S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Russell W H
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kridel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed