Traumatic bone cyst of mandible: a case series

A traumatic bone cyst is an uncommon nonneoplastic lesion of the jaws that is considered as a "pseudocyst" because of the lack of an epithelial lining. This lesion is particularly asymptomatic and therefore is diagnosed by routine dental radiographic examination as a unilocular radiolucency with scalloped borders, mainly in the posterior mandibular region. The exact etiopathogenesis of the lesion remains uncertain, though it is often associated with trauma.

We report three Persian cases of traumatic bone cyst with different clinical and radiographic features, and we present a review of the literature to further discuss diagnostic and treatment challenges. Only one of the three patients reported a history of trauma, and despite the usual signs and symptoms of the lesion, extension of the defect to the ramus, swelling of the lingual cortex, and their unusual presence in the anterior mandible were noted in these patients.

Because features of this cyst can be varied, careful history taking and radiographic evaluation alongside the clinical signs and symptoms have a very significant role in definitive diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and accurate assessment of prognosis.