Delayed Onset Perinasal Mucocele Cyst in a Patient With Remote History of Orofacial Cleft Repair

Nasoalveolar cysts are rare, nonodontogenic cysts with a subtle course that can lead to nasal deformity and, uncommonly, nasal airway obstruction. Herein the authors present the case of a 28-year-old male who presented with a recurrent left-sided nasoalveolar cyst. Upon presentation, this cyst had formed a significant alar defect and was obstructing the left nasal airway. Although nasoalveolar cysts have been well-described in literature, the patient represents an atypical case in that nasoalveolar cysts most commonly occur in females and in patients aged 40 to 60 years old. The patient's history of extensive facial reconstruction for cleft palate and lip is also anomalous and suggests an inclusion cyst rather than a cyst of typical epithelial origin. The complex course of this cyst and the history of this patient, which led to treatment with a subdermal dissection, septoplasty and turbinate reduction, and alar defect correction make this case of particular note.