Case of the Week
Section Editors: Matylda Machnowska1 and Anvita Pauranik2
1University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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May 4, 2009
Nasopalatine Duct Cyst
- Nasopalatine duct cyst (AKA: incisive canal cyst) is a developmental, nonneoplastic cyst; it is the most common of the nonodontogenic cysts and develops only in the midline anterior maxilla.
- Embryologic fusion of facial maxillary processes results in formation of paired epithelial strands (nasopalatine ducts) that traverse the incisive canals caudally and ventrally connecting nasal and oral cavities.
- Inside the canal: branches of the descending palatine and sphenopalatine arteries, nasopalatine nerve and mucous-secreting glands
- Cysts form anywhere in the incisive canal located in the palatine bone and behind the alveolar process of the maxillary central incisors, or in the palatal soft tissues that overlies the foramen, called the cyst of the incisive papilla.
- Tooth displacement is a common clinical finding.
- Cyst formation is due to spontaneous cystic degeneration of residual ductal epithelium.
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