Case report of a pigmented dentigerous cyst and a review of the literature on pigmented odontogenic cysts

Abstract

This paper reports the first case of a dentigerous cyst containing melanin-pigment and melanocytes in the lining epithelium, and the first case of a odontogenic cyst with macroscopically visible pigmentation in the cyst wall. The patient was a 29-year-old Japanese male with a cystic lesion in the left retromolar area of the mandible. Pathologic examination revealed the lesion to be a dentigerous cyst with or without mild surface keratinization, and numerous granules of melanin-pigment were distributed in the basal cells of the epithelial lining. Furthermore, dendritic melanocytes were scattered in the basal layer. Review of the literature revealed that pigmented odontogenic cysts are uncommon, and only 11 cases have been documented; eight were odontogenic keratocyst, one was a gingival cyst, one was a botryoid odontogenic cyst, and one was a lateral periodontal cyst. The possible origin of melanocytes in odontogenic lesions is discussed.