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Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2013;6(2):242-248
Original Article
A histopathologic study of epidermoid cysts in Korea:
comparison between ruptured and unruptured
epidermal cyst
Joon Soo Park, Dong Kyun Ko
Department of Dermatology, the Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
Received November 1, 2012; Accepted November 23, 2012; Epub January 15, 2013; Published February 1, 2013
Abstract: Background: An epidermoid cyst is a common epithelial-lined cyst. There have been many studies on
epidermoid cysts, but few focused on ruptured epidermoid cyst and its histopathologic characteristics. Objective:
We evaluated the histopathologic differences between ruptured and unruptured epidermoid cysts, and their relationships.
Methods: We retrospectively examined 359 excision biopsy specimen diagnosed as epidermoid cyst from
1991 to 2011 at Department of dermatology at Daegu Catholic University Hospital. Results: The mean cyst area
was 38.89 mm2 and the mean cyst area of the unruptured group was larger than that of the ruptured group. The
mean wall thickness was 90.15 μm and was thicker in ruptured group than in unruptured group. The correlation
between cyst diameter and wall thickness had statistically negative correlation in unruptured and in ruptured group.
In ruptured group, the cystic size of the cases with rete ridge was smaller than that of without rete ridge. The cyst
wall thickness of the cases with rete ridge was thicker than that of the cases without rete ridge. Limitations: For comparative
evaluation of sizes, randomly shaped cysts are assumed to be perfectly elliptic. And only those with more
than 3/4 cystic wall remaining were included in the subject. Conclusion: When comparing the ruptured and the
unruptured cyst, the rupture of cyst had significant relationship with increased cyst diameter and area, increased
wall thickness, more cyst contents, and more wall changes. Moreover, the presence of rete ridge in ruptured cystic
wall is a valuable variable to recognize the duration of the rupture. (IJCP1211001).
Keywords: Epidermal cyst, epidermoid cyst, histopathologic comparison, rete rigde, ruptued epidermoid cyst,
unruptued epidermoid cyst
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Joon Soo Park
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine
The Catholic University of Daegu, 3056-6
Daemyung-4-Dong, Nam-gu, Daegu, Korea.
Phone: 82-53-650-4161; Fax: 82-53-650-4891
E-mail: g9563009@cu.ac.kr
Original Article
A histopathologic study of epidermoid cysts in Korea:
comparison between ruptured and unruptured
epidermal cyst
Joon Soo Park, Dong Kyun Ko
Department of Dermatology, the Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
Received November 1, 2012; Accepted November 23, 2012; Epub January 15, 2013; Published February 1, 2013
Abstract: Background: An epidermoid cyst is a common epithelial-lined cyst. There have been many studies on
epidermoid cysts, but few focused on ruptured epidermoid cyst and its histopathologic characteristics. Objective:
We evaluated the histopathologic differences between ruptured and unruptured epidermoid cysts, and their relationships.
Methods: We retrospectively examined 359 excision biopsy specimen diagnosed as epidermoid cyst from
1991 to 2011 at Department of dermatology at Daegu Catholic University Hospital. Results: The mean cyst area
was 38.89 mm2 and the mean cyst area of the unruptured group was larger than that of the ruptured group. The
mean wall thickness was 90.15 μm and was thicker in ruptured group than in unruptured group. The correlation
between cyst diameter and wall thickness had statistically negative correlation in unruptured and in ruptured group.
In ruptured group, the cystic size of the cases with rete ridge was smaller than that of without rete ridge. The cyst
wall thickness of the cases with rete ridge was thicker than that of the cases without rete ridge. Limitations: For comparative
evaluation of sizes, randomly shaped cysts are assumed to be perfectly elliptic. And only those with more
than 3/4 cystic wall remaining were included in the subject. Conclusion: When comparing the ruptured and the
unruptured cyst, the rupture of cyst had significant relationship with increased cyst diameter and area, increased
wall thickness, more cyst contents, and more wall changes. Moreover, the presence of rete ridge in ruptured cystic
wall is a valuable variable to recognize the duration of the rupture. (IJCP1211001).
Keywords: Epidermal cyst, epidermoid cyst, histopathologic comparison, rete rigde, ruptued epidermoid cyst,
unruptued epidermoid cyst
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Joon Soo Park
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine
The Catholic University of Daegu, 3056-6
Daemyung-4-Dong, Nam-gu, Daegu, Korea.
Phone: 82-53-650-4161; Fax: 82-53-650-4891
E-mail: g9563009@cu.ac.kr
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