CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF THE ODONTOGENIC KERATOCYST

Introduction. The odontogenic keratocyst, classified among developmental odontogenic cysts, is a benign intraosseous cystic formation, accounting for approximately 10% of jaw cysts. It exhibits aggressive behavior with a high recurrence rate. Aim. To evaluate the characteristics of progression, diagnosis, and treatment of odontogenic keratocysts. Materials and methods. The research included 20 patients, based on a retrospective study of medical records at IMSP IMU from 2010 to 2023, and a prospective study from 2023 to 2024 at 'Omni Dent' LLC. The surgical treatment methods analyzed were segmental maxillary resection, cystectomy, and cystotomy. Results. Cystectomy was performed in 13 patients, cystectomy combined with mandibular resection in 3 patients, and cystotomy was carried out in 4 other patients. No recurrence was observed in cases treated by cystotomy or cystectomy combined with mandibular resection, whereas recurrence occurred in 4 out of the 13 cases treated by cystectomy alone. Conclusions. The treatment approach should be tailored to each clinical case, with outcomes closely linked to early detection and intervention.