A radiologic analysis of dentigerous cysts and odontogenic keratocysts associated with a mandibular third molar.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to discriminate radiographically between dentigerous cysts (DCs) and odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) associated with a mandibular third molar.


METHODS
The material consisted of panoramic radiographs of dentigerous cysts (44 patients, 45 cysts) and odontogenic keratocysts (15 patients, 16 cysts), all of which were related to a mandibular third molar. The radiographic images were analyzed with reference to the patients' ages and symptoms.


RESULTS
The mean age of patients in the OKC group was less than that of patients in the DC group. The mean area of the cysts in the OKC group was larger than that of those in the DC group. The mean distance from the second to the third molar in the DC group was greater than that in the OKC group. Although there was a significant correlation between the area and distance in the DC and OKC groups, the patients' ages did not significantly correlate to the area and distance of either cyst.


CONCLUSIONS
The OKCs had a tendency toward rapid growth in the patient's youth but short movement of a third molar compared with the DCs. The DCs and OKCs do not appear to develop gradually from the period when follicles or dental lamina were formed but arise at various periods randomly.
Tsukamoto
G
G
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery II, Okayama University Dental School, Okayama, Japan. gtsuka@md.okayama-u.ac.jp
Sasaki
A
A
Akiyama
T
T
Ishikawa
T
T
Kishimoto
K
K
Nishiyama
A
A
Matsumura
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003803:Dentigerous Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011336:Probability; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic