Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study is to update our understanding of the clinicopathological features of odontogenic keratocysts in a series of 43 cases from a single center.
Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 51 specimens from 43 patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2020. Microscopic findings, patients’ age, gender, lesion location, and presence or absence of recurrence were noted.
Results: The study group included 22 men and 21 women with a mean age of 38.72 /year. In 37 patients, the lesion occurred in the mandible, while in 6 patients it was found in the maxilla. Three patients were associated with nevoid basal-cell carcinoma syndrome. Three patients had multiple odontogenic cysts. Satellite cysts were present on the cyst walls in 5 of the 43 cases. Epithelial islands were present in 4 of the cases. In 28 cases, moderate to severe inflammation was observed in the cyst wall. Among them, in 18 cases, classical odontogenic keratocyst features were lost in some areas in the cyst epithelium. Elongation of rete ridges and radicular cyst-like areas were observed in 12 cases. In only 41.66% of patients, the odontogenic keratocyst or keratocystic odontogenic tumor terms were given in the provisional diagnoses. Clinically, the most frequently confused lesions in the differential diagnosis were dentigerous cyst, radicular cyst, residual cyst, and ameloblastoma. No recurrence was observed in any of the patients.
Conclusion: Concomitant inflammation can cause changes in the epithelium and may hide the diagnostic features of odontogenic keratocysts. Therefore, careful examination is required for accurate diagnosis.