The Lateral Periodontal Cyst: Report of a Rare Developmental Anomaly with Literature Review

The Lateral Periodontal Cyst (LPC) is a relatively rare odontogenic cyst of developmental origin that accounts for less than 2% of all cysts of the jawbone. It is characterised by its location on the lateral root surface of vital permanent mandibular canines and premolars in individuals between the fifth and seventh decades of life. The cyst is typically asymptomatic and exhibits a characteristic incidental radiographic finding of a well-circumscribed round or ovoid unilocular radiolucency with minimal effect on surrounding structures. Clinically, it poses a diagnostic challenge in differentiating it from other entities that present similar clinicoradiographic pictures, such as gingival cysts, odontogenic keratocysts, lateral radicular cysts, and lesions of endodontic and periodontal origin. Although the occurrence of LPC is rare, precise diagnosis is essential to provide appropriate treatment. Hereby, the authors present a case report of a 24-year-old male patient of LPC and review the pertinent literature.