[Odontogenic keratocysts. A report on cases with long-term histological review and clinical follow-up]

Keratocysts are cysts characterised by the keratinisation of the wall. Keratinisation may be observed in almost all types of cysts found at the level of the maxillary bones. The preferred location is the mandible. Keratocysts can belong to clinical symptoms of Gorlin's syndrome. In this case they are generally multiple and are associated with basocellular nevi and vertebral and costal anomalies. Keratocysts often relapse since their epithelium has a more rapid rate of growth than other maxillary cysts. Their correct treatment entails the radical enucleation of the cystic lesion or its marsupialization; the most aim is the complete removal of the cystic wall. We think that often is not necessary the use of more radical bone surgery (plugs, resections) except in those cases with multiple relapses. This paper reports a review of the clinical cases of keratocyst in the maxillary bone observed by the Maxillo-Facial Surgery Department of the Turin University since 1980 to 1991. The anatomo-pathological diagnosis of keratocyst has been introduced in Turin University after 1985; for this reason an histological review has been performed on the whole series of cysts with suspected characteristics observed during the past decade.