Nasal dermoids : the significance of a midline

Nasal dermoids are rare and their diagnosis is often delayed until complications occur. Signs such as a midline nasal punctum may be noted at birth but the significance of this finding frequently passes unrecognised. The cases are reported of two patients which illustrate the typical presentation of these lesions and their subsequent management is discussed. (Arch Dis Child 1993; 68: 418-419) Nasal dermoids are rare, accounting for only 7-6% of all dermoids in the head and neck region.' These lesions rarely result in dramatic clinical findings and therefore the diagnosis is often missed until complications occur. We present the cases of two patients and describe the appropriate investigations and definitive treat-