Clinical Presentation, Diagnostic Approaches, and Management of Tornwaldt Cysts: A Comprehensive Narrative Review

ABSTRACT Objective This narrative review aims to provide otolaryngologists with a comprehensive overview of the clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies for Tornwaldt cysts, synthesizing insights from the available literature. Data Sources A literature review was performed using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Scielo databases. The references list of included studies was manually searched to ensure a thorough review. Methods Literature was reviewed using targeted keywords, including the following MeSH terms and their combinations “Tornwaldt Cyst,” Nasopharyngeal cyst,” “Diagnosis,” “Treatment,” “Case Reports,” and “Literature Review.” The Boolean operators “AND” and “OR” were used. Emphasis was placed on descriptive synthesis of case reports, case series, and retrospective studies to highlight practical clinical insights. Results A total of 78 studies were retrieved by the primary search. After the selection process, 21 studies were eligible for qualitative synthesis and data extraction. These included 2 retrospective studies, 15 case reports, and 4 case series. The articles reported about 232 patients in total. Conclusion Awareness of the clinical characteristics, diagnostic challenges, and treatment modalities of Tornwaldt cysts is essential for optimal management. Ongoing research will refine our understanding and improve patient outcomes.