Congenital Lateral Sinus of the Upper Lip

ABSTRACT

Congenital sinuses of the lips are uncommon congenital malformations. Congenital lateral upper lip sinuses or pits are more rare than those that occur in the midline, and only 10 cases have been reported previously. Congenital sinus of the upper lip usually present as a pit, which is the opening of a blind sinus penetrating the orbicularis oris muscle and ending just beneath the mucosal surface of the lip, without communication with oral cavity. Most sinus tracts are lined by stratified squamous epithelium, and mucous drainage or secretion is the most common symptom. In the literature, there are several theories of pathogenesis in which the invagination theory recieves the most attention but its etiology remains controversial. Surgical resection is the tratment of choice and an elliptical excision gives the most acceptable aesthetic result. The authors present 2 rare cases of congenital lateral upper lip sinus with pits found below right vermilion border, and just above the vermilion border on the left ridge of the philtrum.