An 11-month-old girl's mother noted this asymptomatic cyst on her daughters soft palate. Oral lymphoepithelial cyst is an uncommon lesion that develops in lymphoid tissue in the oral pharynx including the palatine tonsils, lingual tonsils, and pharyngeal adenoids. They may also arise within accessory lymphoid tissue on the floor of the mouth, ventral surface of the tongue, and soft palate. Microscopically they appear similar to branchial cleft cysts (cervical lymphoepithelial cysts), but they are usually much smaller with lesions rarely exceeding 1 cm. These small submucosal cysts have a yellow or white appearance and feel firm on palpation. They contain creamy or cheesy kertinous material and are usually asymptomatic except when they are traumatized of become infected. They may occur at any age but are most prevalent in young adults. Cysts rarely recur after surgical excision.
