Epidemiologic and clinicopathologic features of 19,352 jaw cysts: a single-center retrospective study

Jaw cysts are a diverse group of intraosseous lesions commonly encountered in oral and maxillofacial pathologies. Several studies have addressed their distribution and clinicopathological features; however, further large-scale analyses using standardized classification systems may enhance cross-regional comparability and diagnostic consistency. We aimed to evaluate the demographic and anatomical characteristics of jaw cysts over an almost 50-year period.

We retrospectively reviewed 19,352 histologically confirmed jaw cysts diagnosed between 1975 and 2024. Each case was reclassified according to the 2022 WHO classifications for head and neck tumors. Patient age, sex, cyst type, and anatomical location data were collected and descriptively analyzed to identify trends across different cyst categories.

Odontogenic cysts comprised the majority of cases. Radicular cysts were the most common, followed by dentigerous cysts and odontogenic keratocysts. Non-odontogenic cysts mainly consisted of surgical ciliated cysts and nasopalatine duct cysts. Bone cysts (simple bone cysts and aneurysmal bone cysts), which lack an epithelial lining and were therefore analyzed separately, were infrequent. A male predominance was observed overall, with sex- and age-related patterns differing according to cyst type. Mandibular involvement was more common than maxillary involvement, and several cysts showed specific anatomical predilections. These findings highlight distinct demographic and anatomical characteristics across cyst categories.

This large retrospective study provides a detailed epidemiological profile of jaw cysts. The findings revealed distinct patterns according to cyst type, age, sex, and anatomical site, providing a valuable reference for diagnostic refinement and future comparative studies of oral and maxillofacial pathology.