Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Jun 15;15(6):e40488.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.40488. eCollection 2023 Jun.

An Insight Into the Effect of Odontogenic Keratocysts on Surrounding Structures: Cone-Beam Computed Tomography-Based Analysis of Cases

Varsha Ac  1 , Ajay Parihar  1 , Ashish Saxena  2
Affiliations

An Insight Into the Effect of Odontogenic Keratocysts on Surrounding Structures: Cone-Beam Computed Tomography-Based Analysis of Cases

Varsha Ac et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Introduction An odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is a benign intraosseous lesion with potential to demonstrate aggressive and invasive behavior. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the imaging features of the OKC using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to evaluate the association between the internal structure of the lesion and the effect of the lesion on surrounding structures. Methods Overall, 32 CBCT scans of histopathologically diagnosed cases of OKC were analyzed retrospectively. The following variables were analyzed: anatomic location of the lesions (mandible body (right/left), ramus (right/left), mandible body+ramus (right/left), maxilla (right/left), and both jaws), the internal structure of the lesion (unilocular/multilocular), and the effect of the lesion on the surrounding anatomical structures (involvement of the inferior alveolar nerve canal (IANC), displacement of the IANC, cortical expansion, displacement of the tooth, resorption of the root, associated impacted tooth, associated missing tooth). We also looked for the association between the internal structure and the effect of the lesion on anatomic structures. Results Out of 32 cases, 29 (90.6%) cases involved the mandible alone. Statistically significant association (p-value 0.005) was present between the internal structure and mean age of presentation as well as between the internal structure and impacted tooth (p-value 0.027). The association between the internal structure and other variables was statistically not significant. Conclusions The radiographic features of OKCs can be variable, and these lesions have a considerable effect on the tooth, IANC, and cortical bone. Significant association was found between the internal structure, age, and impacted tooth. Since OKCs have a high recurrence rate, CBCT is advised for evaluating the extent and location of any cortical perforations.

Keywords: cone-beam computed tomography; mandible; maxilla; multilocular; odontogenic keratocyst; unilocular.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. OKC involving the body of the mandible causing inferior displacement of the IANC
OKC: Odontogenic keratocyst; IANC: inferior alveolar nerve canal
Figure 2
Figure 2. Unilocular lesion associated with impacted 48 causing posterior and superior displacement of the tooth.
Figure 3
Figure 3. OKC with a multilocular pattern showing root resorption of 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37
Figure 4
Figure 4. Multilocular lesion involving the right ramus of the mandible showing minimal expansion of bone irrespective of the size of the lesion
Figure 5
Figure 5. A case of Gorlin-Goltz syndrome showing multiple lesions of OKCs involving both jaws
OKCs: Odontogenic keratocysts
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Shafer Shafer, Hine Hine, Levy Levy. India: Elsevier; 2012. Shafer’s Textbook of Oral Pathology-Seventh Edition.
    1. White SC, Pharoah MJ. India: Elsevier; 2019. White and Pharoah's Oral Radiology: Principles and Interpretation-Second South Asia Edition.
    1. Imaging characteristic of 11 lesions of odontogenic keratocyst in the Indian subpopulation: a cone-beam computed tomography experience. Shastry SP, Pandeshwar P, Padmashree S, Kumar NN, Garg S, Sanjay CJ. Contemp Clin Dent. 2020;11:20–27. - PMC - PubMed
    1. A review of odontogenic keratocysts and the behavior of recurrences. Chirapathomsakul D, Sastravaha P, Jansisyanont P. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endodontology. 2006 ;101:5–9. - PubMed
    1. Frequency of odontogenic cysts and tumors: a systematic review. Johnson NR, Gannon OM, Savage NW, Batstone MD. J Investig Clin Dent . 2014;5:9–14. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources