Glandular Odontogenic Cyst: An Updated Analysis of 169 Cases Reported in the Literature

Objective: To integrate the available data published on glandular odontogenic cyst (GOC) into a comprehensive analysis of its clinical/radiological and histopathological features.

Methods: An electronic search was undertaken in May/2017. Eligibility criteria included publications having enough clinical/radiological/histological information to confirm the diagnosis.

Results: Fifty-eight publications (169 GOCs) were included. The lesion was slightly more prevalent in men than in women. There was a high prevalence in the fifty/sixth decades of life, in the anterior regions, and in mandibles. Lesions were commonly associated with bone expansion (73%) and unilocular radiological appearance (61.5%). GOC was found to be associated with tooth displacement or an unerupted tooth (30.9%), cortical bone perforation (26%), presence of clinical symptoms (24.3%), root resorption (13.9%). Microscopic parameters most commonly were observed in GOCs-in at least 95% of the lesions: presence of hobnail cells, intraepithelial microcysts, epithelial lining with variable thickness. The presence of apocrine snouting was the microscopic parameter less often found (40.4%).

Conclusion: Although the recurrence rate of GOCs is not as high as previously believed, it is a relevant phenomenon (21.6%). Adjunctive procedures after enucleation should be considered. None of the clinical/radiological and histopathological features evaluated had a statistically significant effect on the recurrence rate.