Pericoronal radiolucencies with significant pathology: clinico-histopathologic evaluation

The purpose of the study was to correlate the provisional diagnosis of pericoronal radiolucencies associated with impacted, embedded, or unerupted teeth with the histopathologic diagnosis, and also to emphasize the importance of early detection for better diagnosis and management.

This is a retrospective study involving 18 cases of pericoronal radiolucencies associated with unerupted, embedded, or impacted teeth whose data during 1-year period were retrieved, and were reviewed for clinical, radiological, and histopathologic data. Also, comparison and correlation of clinico-histopathologic diagnosis was made.

Of the 18 cases, 11 were provisionally diagnosed as dentigerous cyst and the remaining were diagnosed as ameloblastoma, odontogenic keratocyst, adenomatoid odontogenic tumor, and calcifying epithelial odontogenic cyst. Histopathologic diagnosis of the 18 cases showed varied results, with only 10% correlating with the provisional diagnosis.

Although many pathological processes may present radiographically as pericoronal radiolucencies associated with unerupted teeth, the most common is the dentigerous cyst. Hence, it is crucial for the clinician to fully investigate all teeth that fail to erupt at the expected time, and promptly initiate appropriate assessment and management of suspected cystic lesions.