Epidermoid Cyst of the Spleen: A Single Institution Series

Abstract

Epidermoid cyst of the spleen is a rare, benign lesion of congenital origin most commonly seen as an incidental finding in children and young adults; however, comprehensive clinicopathologic analysis of this entity is limited. We describe the clinicopathologic characteristics of epidermoid cysts arising in the spleen in 13 patients, diagnosed between 1995 and 2025 at our institution. Most patients were diagnosed as young adults with a female predominance (11:2). The cysts were frequently identified as either incidental findings or in the setting of imaging performed for evaluation of abdominal pain. The size of the cysts was highly variable at presentation, ranging from 2.5 cm to 16 cm in greatest dimension. Unilocular and multilocular cysts were both seen and showed a similar benign course. In the patients who had complete surgical removal, there have been no known recurrences to date, consistent with a benign, self-limited process.