An evidence based surgical algorithm for management of Odontogenic keratocyst

Abstract The effective management of odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) remains a subject of interest and confusion in the Oral and Maxillofacial surgery literature. Currently, there is a lack of consensus regarding the most appropriate treatment for patients with odontogenic keratocyst. Of the various treatment options available, no modality to date has been shown to demonstrate a zero-or near zero recurrence rates except wide resection with clear margins. With the prevailing dearth of evidence based surgical protocols for the management of patients with odontogenic keratocyst in the literature, this study aims to present a surgical algorithm, based on meta-analysis results, that hopefully will be beneficial in enhancing treatment of patients with this condition. Using parameters of; size, lesion type (primary or secondary), syndromic or solitary nature of the lesion, presence of cortical perforations, and locularity; we present a decision tree, to aid treatment planning and help attain the least chance of recurrence in the management of the odontogenic keratocyst.