ODONTOGENIC KERATOCYST

Odontogenic Keratocysts (OKC) are benign, intra-osseous tumors of odontogenic origin lined with parakeratinized stratified squamous epithelium. OKC's etiopathogenesis is unknown, but numerous hypotheses exist. According to various theories, OKCs originate from the residual dental lamina, basal cells, or even tissue responses to inflammation or trauma. There is also the theory that suggests OKC to be of neoplastic origin. Intraosseous OKCs affect the mandible more than the maxilla. OKCs occur in all ages, with a slight male predilection. OKCs recur between 2.5% and 62.5% after surgical excision, with higher rates in syndromic patients. Due to their growth-inhibiting and proliferative nature, OKCs are aggressive. Antigen-antibody epithelial cell markers can diagnose OKCs. Compared to OKCs without PTCH1 mutations, the expression of Ki67 was found to be significantly elevated in OKCs with PTCH1 mutations. The presence of elevated P53 levels in Odontogenic Keratocyst (OKC) has been suggested as a potential mechanism underlying cell cycle alterations. Odontogenic Keratocyst treatment is controversial and multifaceted. Enucleation, marsupialization, and decompression are conservative treatments, while molecular treatment inhibition of Hedgehog signaling. Some of the treatment modalities include enucleation followed by the use of Carnoy's solution, peripheral ostectomy, cryotherapy, and resection. OOC and OKC are aggressive but rarely malignant.