Does active decompression of odontogenic keratocyst change the histologic diagnosis?

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the histopathologic findings of pre- and post-active decompression of odontogenic keratocyst and to establish if such findings were consistent.

Materials and methods: A retrospective case series from a group of patients diagnosed with odontogenic keratocyst who underwent active decompression and distraction sugosteogenesis followed by final enucleation was designed and implemented. The dependent variable was changed in histologic diagnosis, as evaluated by an oral and maxillofacial pathologist. Other variables included age, gender, anatomic location of the lesion, and time elapsed from initial biopsy to final enucleation.

Results: Six patients diagnosed with odontogenic keratocyst who underwent active decompression followed by enucleation and curettage were studied. The mean age was 45.6 years (range, 16 to 74) 83.33% were males, 16.66 females. Lesions were located in the mandible in 83.33% of cases and in the maxilla in 16.66% of cases. Post-active decompression histologic examination at the time of definitive enucleation was consistent with the initial diagnosis in 83.33% of cases.

Conclusions: The histopathological diagnosis at the time of definitive treatment by enucleation and curettage is consistent with the pre-active decompression diagnosis.