Tornwaldt's cyst

Pathology

• benign cyst that arises between the roof of the nasopharynx & the remnant of the notochord

Clinical manifestations

• nasal obstruction & postnasal drip
• sensation of a foreign body in throat
• symptoms may worsen when lying flat

Diagnostic procedures

• Nasopharyngoscopy reveals a smooth, pink, cystic mass in nasopharynx midline

* image

Radiology

• CT of head
  • cystic tumor in midline of nasopharynx without intracranial extension

Management

• surgical marsupialization of the cyst for symptomatic patients

More general terms

• cyst