title: Surgical treatment of oral and facial soft tissue cystic lesions in children. A retrospective analysis of 60 consecutive cases with literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the experience in the treatment of soft tissue cysts of the orofacial region in children treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Children's Hospital "A. and P. Kyriakou", Dental School, University of Athens.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study including 60 young individuals, 4 months to 14 years old. Surgical treatment was provided under general anaesthesia, during a 13-year period from 2000 to 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of cysts were mucoceles (n = 36, 60.0%), followed by ranulas (n = 15 or 25.0%), dermoid cysts (n = 4 or 6.6%), branchial cysts (n = 2 or 3.3%), thyroglossal duct cysts (n = 2, 3.3%) and one case of cystic hygroma (n = 1 or 1.6%). The primary method of treatment was enucleation and secondary marsupialization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is very important to appreciate that although soft tissue cysts are benign lesions, some of them may grow to a large size and become a major threat, especially in developing orofacial regions in children. In addition, as some types of soft tissue cysts such as cystic hygroma show a tendency to recur, early examination and follow-up is required for the young population.
authors: University Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Head: Prof. C. Alexandridis), at the Children's Hospital "A. and P. Kyriakou" (Director: Prof. I. Iatrou), Dental School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Kolomvos
authors: University Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Head: Prof. C. Alexandridis), at the Children's Hospital "A. and P. Kyriakou" (Director: Prof. I. Iatrou), Dental School, University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: lygidakis-nadia@ath.forthnet.gr.
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Theologie-Lygidakis
authors: University Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Head: Prof. C. Alexandridis), at the Children's Hospital "A. and P. Kyriakou" (Director: Prof. I. Iatrou), Dental School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors: Fotios
authors: F
authors: Tzerbos
authors: University Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Head: Prof. C. Alexandridis), at the Children's Hospital "A. and P. Kyriakou" (Director: Prof. I. Iatrou), Dental School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Pavli
authors: University Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Head: Prof. C. Alexandridis), at the Children's Hospital "A. and P. Kyriakou" (Director: Prof. I. Iatrou), Dental School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors: Minas
authors: M
authors: Leventis
authors: University Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Head: Prof. C. Alexandridis), at the Children's Hospital "A. and P. Kyriakou" (Director: Prof. I. Iatrou), Dental School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Iatrou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001935:Branchioma / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003560:Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D003884:Dermoid Cyst / Q000601:surgery; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018191:Lymphangioma, Cystic / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D009078:Mucocele / Q000601:surgery; D011900:Ranula / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013955:Thyroglossal Cyst / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Children; Orofacial region; Soft tissue cysts; Treatment