NASOPALATINE DUCT CYST: CLINICOPATHOLOGIC, RADIOGRAPHIC, AND THERAPEUTIC FEATURES

Nasopalatine duct cyst (NDC) is a nonodontogenic developmental cyst originating from the epithelial rests of the nasopalatine duct. We report the case of a 61-years-old male patient showing a swelling of softened consistency sensitive to palpation with texture and normal coloration in the anterior region of the maxilla close to the midline. The sensibility test revealed vitality of the adjacent teeth. Radiographically, we observed a well-circumscribed unilocular radiolucent defect. An excisional biopsy was performed, and the surgical specimen was sent for histopathologic analysis, which revealed the presence of a cystic lesion lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium with few cell layers associated with a cyst wall of dense fibrous connective tissue. Thus, the diagnosis of nasopalatine duct cyst was established. After 2 years, the postoperative control did not reveal recurrence of the lesion.