Dermal cysts: a dermatopathological perspective and histological reappraisal

Dermal cysts constitute an extremely common entity routinely encountered in dermatology and dermatopathology practice. Their ubiquity, overlapping clinical presentation, dermal location, and histologic diversity can engender diagnostic quandary. Though basically defined by the histologic presence of an epithelial lining, cysts derive from a variety of sources including developmental defects, trauma, and tumoral degeneration. Herein, we will discuss the dermatopathologic attributes of the more common dermal cyst entities, updating the most recent and pertinent literature.