Retrospective Study of Cysts in the Oral and Maxillofacial Regions: Statistical and Clinical Analysis

Abstract

Purpose: This study was designed for identification of the main clinicopathological features of cysts in the oral and maxillofacial regions. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 164 patients who had been diagnosed with cyst of the jaw, from the database of 168 histopathological diagnoses at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Busan Paik Hospital at Inje University, from January 2009 to December 2011. The subjects were treated and the following variables were recorded: gender, age, clinical signs and symptoms, histopathological distribution, treatment methods, and complications. A descriptive analysis of the study variables was performed using a chi-square test. Results: Among the 164 patients, there were more male than female patients (male-female ratio: 1.7:1). The most predominant ages were the 20s and 40s. Among the classes of pathological cysts, radicular cysts and dentigerous cysts were the most common, with incidences of 56.0% and 35.1%. Thirty-six percent of the patients had no symptoms; and of those who had symptoms, the main signs and symptoms were swelling (24.4%) and pain (17.1%). The most frequent management method was the combination operation, such as enucleation with or without extraction and apicoectomy of the causative teeth. Of the 164 patients, 13 had complications; and one patient who had been treated with enucleation with apicoectomy had a recurrent cyst. Conclusion: Using a chi-square test, no significant differences in prevalence were observed in relation to gender according to age. Comparative analysis of radicular and dentigerous cysts showed a significant difference in their prevalence according to their anatomical location, however, no significant differences in were observed in their incidence rates according to age.