Nonodontogenic cysts and pseudocysts of the oral cavity: a retrospective study of 218 cases.

Abstract

Nonodontogenic cysts and pseudocysts pose diagnostic challenges due to their similarity to other maxillofacial lesions in clinical and radiographic appearance. However, these lesions are studied less frequently than odontogenic lesions. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the frequencies and characteristics of nonodontogenic lesions in an Iranian population over a 20-year period. Archived records of 7036 patients referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Shahid Beheshti University Faculty of Dentistry, Tehran, were reviewed. Data on the age and sex of the patients and the type, clinical and radiographic features, and histopathologic diagnoses of the lesions were collected. Statistical analyses included Fisher exact, Kruskal-Wallis, and chi-square tests, and a value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Nonodontogenic cysts were found in 0.5% of all referred patients, while pseudocysts were identified in 2.6%. After a review of records, 218 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of oral pseudocysts or nonodontogenic cysts were included in a more detailed analysis. Mucocele was the most common lesion (63.8%), followed by simple bone cyst (13.8%) and nasopalatine duct cyst (11.9%). The mean (SD) age of these patients was 30.5 (15.7) years, and 53.7% of all the lesions occurred in men. Statistically significant relationships were observed between cyst type and sex (P = 0.001; Fisher exact test), age (P < 0.001; Kruskal-Wallis test), and location (P < 0.001; chi-square test). Most pseudocysts occurred on the lower lip, while nonodontogenic cysts and intraosseous pseudocysts were predominantly found in the maxilla and mandible, respectively. The results of this study highlight the varied demographics and clinical and radiographic presentations of nonodontogenic cysts and pseudocysts, emphasizing the need for thorough radiographic and histopathologic analyses to guide appropriate treatment strategies.