title: Keratin metaplasia in the epithelial lining of odontogenic cysts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find the prevalence of keratin metaplasia and its relation with clinico-pathological profile of the odontogenic cyst.
  
  
  METHODS
  Odontogenic cysts were studied histologically with special stains to identify the presence of keratin and compared with various parameters such as underlying connective tissue inflammation, average epithelial thickness, and site of the cyst, type of the cyst, age and the sex of the patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 71 cases of various odontogenic cysts, 26 (36.6%) cases exhibited keratinization in the epithelial lining. In cysts with severe inflammation there is absence of keratinization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reveals higher prevalence of keratin metaplasia in the odontogenic cysts. Furthermore, inflammation is found to be one of factor influencing keratin metaplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women, Tiruchengode, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Thangadurai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maheswaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Mahatma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Venkatapathy
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Mahatma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Nirima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oza
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: Abikshyeet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panda
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Mahatma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Balamurali
keywords: Cyst; dentigerous radicular and residual cyst; keratin metaplasia; odontogenic cyst