Calcifying odontogenic cyst


Calcifying odotogenic cyst is a benign odontogenic tumor of cystic type most likely to affect the anterior areas of the jaws. It is most common in people in their second to third decades but can be seen at almost any age. On radiographs, the calcifying odontogenic cyst appears as a unilocular radiolucency. In one-third of cases, an impacted tooth is involved. Histologically, there are many cells that are described as "ghost cells", enlarged eosinophilic epithelial cells without nuclei.

Signs and symptoms

It is a rare type of cyst and can occur at any age, mostly between second and third decade of life. The diameter ranges from 2 to 4 cm and swelling pain may be present. Intrabony expansions may produce hard bony expansion and may perforate cortical bones. It can also extend to soft tissue. It can present asymptomatically.

Pathogenesis

Epithelial lining has ability to induce formation of dental tissues in adjacent connective tissue wall.

Diagnosis

Radiographic features

Unilocular, multilocular or mixed radiolucency can be seen. Irregular calcifications may be seen in some cases.

Histology

In general, the epithelium seen is of stratified squamous type and is 5–8 cells thick. Additionally, focal areas of stellate reticulum like cells are seen and near the basement membrane ameloblast-like cells may be seen. Each type of calcifying odontogenic cyst shows special features of which there are three types:
1)Type 1A. Ghost cells and dentinoid are seen.
2)Type 1B. Formation of calcified tissues in the lumen of the cyst wall showing dystrophic calcification. Proliferation of tissues is similar to an Ameloblastic Fibroma.
3)Type 1C. Ameloblast-like proliferation in the connective tissue and lumen of the cyst may be seen.

Treatment

The standard treatment of calcifying odontogenic cyst is enucleation and curettage. Recurrence following enucleation and curretage is rare.