Abstract
Nasopalatine duct cysts (NPDCs) and other nonodontogenic lesions of the oral cavity
may mimic odontogenic pathoses. We present a case of a 22-year-old man with a history
of dental trauma and a lesion displaying the typical clinical and radiographic signs
of a chronic apical abscess— a buccal sinus tract that was traced to a radiolucent
area in the periapex of a maxillary central incisor. A comprehensive diagnostic process
that included a cone-beam computed tomographic scan and a histopathologic examination
of the lesion after complete enucleation led to the final diagnosis of an infected
NPDC. The adjacent tooth was vital at the 1-year posttreatment follow-up, and a radiograph
demonstrated complete healing of the periradicular structures. This case demonstrates
the ability of NPDCs to present clinical and radiographic signs similar to apical
inflammatory lesions and the need for a meticulous diagnostic process in order to
avoid unnecessary endodontic intervention. The article also discusses the differential
diagnoses of nonodontogenic lesions in the premaxillary area.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 23, 2021
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© 2021 American Association of Endodontists.
