A variety of congenital midface anomalies occur in children. Although rare, these disorders are clinically important because of their potential for connection to the central nervous system. Lesions presenting as a midline nasal mass include:
- nasal glioma
- nasal encephalocele
- nasal dermoid cyst
- nasal epidermoid cyst
- hemangioma or lymphangioma
- dacryocystocele
- dacryocystitis
Treatment and prognosis
When a dermoid, glioma, or encephalocele is a suspected diagnosis a biopsy should not be performed before an intracranial connection is ruled out because of the risk of causing meningitis or CSF leak.
Both CT and MR imaging are often required to adequately evaluate the bone, brain, and soft-tissue components of midface anomalies, especially congenital masses and craniofacial syndromes.
The treatment of nasal dermoids, gliomas, and encephaloceles is by complete surgical excision.
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