title: [Clinical evaluation on the growth rate of recurrent odontogenic keratocysts].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the growth rate and early imaging features of recurrent odontogenic keratocysts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three cases with 8 recurrent odontogenic keratocysts were selected to evaluate the growth rate of the lesions via measurement of the greatest diameter of cysts on the radiograms taken in several follow-up periods. In addition, the early imaging features of recurrent cysts were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The growth rate of 8 recurrent cysts was 0.7 mm to 22.0 mm/year with average of 4.90 mm per year. Moreover, the growth rate of recurrent cysts in early postoperative period was much faster than those in late period, and no sclerotic margin was observed around the radiolucency areas. In addition, small separated recurrences might fuse with each other and generate multilocular cyst when they were enlarged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The growth rate of recurrent cysts is intensely associated with their recurrent periods, and the early separated recurrences might fuse with each other and generate multilocular cyst when they were enlarged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Hubei Province, China. geraldchanwhu@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi-fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors