[Keratocysts of the jaws with an expansion to the skull base]

Ceratocysts prefer attaint the jaws solitarily or multiply. Familiar heapings are described in connection with the naevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (Gorlin-Goltz-Syndrome). In most of the patients they are removable simply by enucleation. The histological typing as a cyst suggests a harmlessness of the disease. There is a significant higher amount of recurrent cysts compared to other odontogenous cysts, whereas clinical symptoms are absent for a long time. That give reasons for findings of breakthrough to the skull base. There are no real alternatives for the impairing operation procedures. It is reported about 69 patients with ceratocysts. In 6.9% a breakthrough to the skull base was found. Therefore a radical operation procedure and a close meshed postoperative checking management with regular MRI and conventional x-ray will be demanded.