Glandular cyst mimicking a residual cyst: Case report

The glandular odontogenic cyst (GOC) is a rare developmental odontogenic cyst of the jaws, with a reported prevalence ranging from 0.012 % to 1.3 %. Due to its nonspecific clinical and radiographic features, it exhibits unpredictable and potentially aggressive behavior. This case report describes a rare instance of GOC, emphasizing its epidemiology, origin, and its clinical, radiographic, and microscopic characteristics.

A 42-year-old patient was referred to the Oral Surgery Department due to a painful vestibular swelling in the lower right premolar region that had been evolving over the past three years. Clinical and radiological examinations revealed a unilocular radiolucent lesion in the region of a previously extracted tooth, suggesting a residual cyst. The lesion was treated by enucleation. The histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of a glandular odontogenic cyst.

GOC presents diagnostic challenges due to its resemblance to other odontogenic cysts and tumors. It is a rare lesion with no specific clinical or radiographic signs. The recurrence risk is clearly high and requires specific, long-term follow-up.

Glandular odontogenic cysts, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of radiolucent maxillary lesions with high growth and recurrence potential. GOC exhibits aggressive behavior and has a tendency to recur after excision, highlighting the importance of recognizing it and including it in the differential diagnosis by dentists and oral surgeons.