Intraoral surgical management of dermoid cysts of the floor of the mouth: report of three cases

Introduction: Dermoid cysts (DC) are uncommon developmental lesions that rarely occur in the oral cavity. The floor of the mouth is the most frequent intraoral location, where these lesions may present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges because of their variable clinical and radiographic features. Case Series: This study reports three cases of DC involving the floor of the mouth. The patients were aged 16, 23, and 30 years and presented with painless swellings of varying duration. Clinical examination and imaging studies, including ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, were used for diagnostic assessment. In one case, the lesion was initially interpreted as a plunging ranula, highlighting the challenges associated with the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions in this region. Aspiration contributed to the preoperative diagnosis by revealing characteristic cystic contents. All lesions were treated by complete surgical excision through an intraoral approach under general anesthesia. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of DC in all cases. No postoperative complications or recurrences were observed during follow-up. Conclusion: DC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions of the floor of the mouth. Comprehensive diagnostic assessment and complete surgical excision provide favorable outcomes with a low risk of recurrence.