Fact-sheet: Nasolabial cyst
- Nasal vestibule cyst
- Klestadt cyst
Updated on 08/11/2025 at 8:58 AM
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Definition
Benign, extraosseous, non-odontogenic soft tissue cyst of the nasolabial fold (lateral, between the base of the nose and the upper lip).
Clinical features
Painless swelling of the nasolabial fold, which may cause nasal obstruction, elevation of the nasal ala, and local pain.
Rare condition, predominantly affecting women in the 4th and 5th decades.
Unilateral in 90% of cases, bilateral in approximately 10%.
Ultrasound
Well-defined anechoic cystic lesion located in the soft tissues of the nasolabial fold, superficial to the maxillary bone.
CT
Well-defined round lesion of cystic density in the soft tissues of the nasolabial fold, with no evidence of osseous origin.
MRI
Cystic signal lesion of the nasolabial fold, hyperintense on T2, without enhancement after IV injection of gadolinium chelates.
Management
Excision via a sublabial approach, with a low recurrence rate.
Alternative: endoscopic transnasal marsupialization.
Differential diagnosis
Nasopalatine duct cyst (median)
Salivary duct cyst
Epidermal inclusion cyst
Odontogenic cyst
Hydrocystoma