Variations in keratinizing odontogenic cysts and tumors

Classification of keratinizing odontogenic cysts and tumors is not entirely satisfactory to the clinician and pathologist because many individual cases do not fit precisely into a particular category. This report describes the nature of some of these marginal lesions in order that similar cases may be diagnosed and treated correctly. Eight selected cases are described histologically, and their clinical behavior is discussed. It is concluded that the histopathologic appearance of the odontogenic epithelium in odontogenic cysts and tumors varies to a large extent and gives rise to a variety of keratinizing lesions. It is further concluded that some varieties are unique and, for the present, treatment of the rare lesions depends more on observed clinical behavior, with morphology having a lesser role in prognosis. It is important that clinicians as well as pathologists be aware of the wide variation of these keratinizing lesions so that the patient will receive optimum treatment.