Cysts Flashcards
What is a cyst?
A pathological cavity having fluid, semi-fluid or gaseous contents and which is not created by the accumulation of pus.
Wholly or partly lined by epithelium.
What radiographs might you request?
Initially PA radiograph, occlusal or OPT.
- choice dictated by patient history and clinical examination.
Supplemental
- CBCT
- Facial radiographs- posterior-anterior mandible or occipitomental views.
What are the limitations of initial radiographs in the dental setting?
They are a 2D image of a 3D structure- don’t know why extent of the lesion bunco-lingually.
What are the radiographic features of a cyst?
Location
Shape- often spherical or egg-shaped. most grow by hydrostatic pressure.
Margins- often well defined and corticated.
Locularity-often unilocular but can be multilocular or pseduolocular.
Mulitplicity- usually single but can sometimes be bilateral or multiple.
Effect on surrounding anatomy- displacement of cortical plates, adjacent teeth, maxillary sinus, inferior alveolar canal.
Root resorption may occur with chronic cysts.
If a cyst becomes infected, how might that manifest itself radiographically?
Cysts may lose definition and cortication of margins if they become infected.
What can epithelial cysts be classified as?
Odontogenic- inflammatory or developmental
Non-odontogenic.
What are odontogenic cysts?
Occur in tooth-bearing area.
Most common cause of bony swelling in the jaws- 90% of all cysts in the oral and maxillofacial region.
Lined with epithelium.
What are the odontogenic sources of epithelium?
Rests of Malassez- remnants of Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath
Rests of Serres- remnants of the dental lamina
Reduced enamel epithelium- remnants of the enamel organ.
What are the most common odontogenic cysts?
Radicular cyst or residual cyst if the tooth has been extracted.
- 60% of odontogenic cysts.
Dentigerous cyst and eruption cyst
- 18% of odontogenic cysts.
Odontogenic keratocyst
- 12% of cysts in the maxillofacial region.
What is a radicular cyst?
Most common jaw cyst.
Inflammatory odontogenic cyst, which is around the apex of a non-vital tooth.
Initiated by chronic inflammation at apex of tooth due to pup necrosis- proliferation of epithelium- rests of Malassez.
Tooth is often asymptomatic.
What is the aetiology of a radicular cyst?
Most common in 4th and 5th decades.
60% in the maxilla and 40% in the mandible.
Can involve any tooth- frequently the lateral incisor region.
What is the radiographic presentation of a radicular cyst?
Round or ovoid radiolucency at the root apex of a non-vital tooth.
Unilocular, well defined.
Uniform radiolucency.
Corticated margin continuous with lamina dura of non-vital tooth.
Larger lesions may displace adjacent structures.
Long standing lesions may cause external root resorption and/or dystrophic calcification.
How does a radicular cyst present clinically?
Often asymptomatic but may cause pain if it becomes infected.
Typically slow growing with limited expansion.
What is the difference between a radicular cyst and a periapical granuloma?
Difficult to differentiate radiographically- radicular cysts tend to be larger
- if radiolucency diameter is greater than 15mm, it is likely to be a radicular cyst.
Describe the histological features of a radicular cyst.
Regular lining of non-keratinised squamous epithelium.
Deposits of cholesterol
Vascular capsule
Inflammatory infiltrate
Ruston bodies may be present in odontogenic cysts.
Mucous metaplasia
Cholesterol clefts
How does a granuloma develop into a radicular cyst?
Epithelial rests of Malassez proliferate in periapical granuloma.
- ballooning type growth, all aspects of the cyst will increase in size at the same rate and same time.
Radicular cysts may form by- proliferating epithelium with central necrosis or epithelium surrounds fluid area.
What is the mechanism by which a radicular cyst continues to grow once it has been formed?
Osmotic effect with semi-permeable wall
Cytokine mediated growth.
What special investigations would you request for a potential cyst?
Sensibility tests
CBCT
Why might someone with a cyst C/O a cracking noise?
As you press on the swelling, the bone is thinner in this area due to the cyst, so the pressure that is placed on the bone cause. cracking sound.
What symptoms might someone present with that has a cyst?
Mobility of teeth
Swelling
sensitivity of teeth
Numbness- cyst may be pressing on the nerve.
Discolouration of teeth
Tenderness
Some may not have any symptoms at all.
if a cyst was impinging on the maxillary sinus, what symptoms may the patient present with?
Blocked nose
Sinusitis- headaches, worse when leaning forwards.
Numbness in the infraorbital region.
What is a residual cyst?
When a radicular cyst persists after loss of the tooth.
What is a lateral radicular cyst?
Radicular cyst associated with an accessory canal.
Located on the side of the tooth instead of the apex.
What type of fluid might you see in a radicular cyst?
Might be watery, straw-coloured fluid to a semi solid brownish material.
What would be the standard treatment for a radicular cyst?
Extraction of associated tooth and simple enucleation.
What is an inflammatory collateral cyst?
Type of inflammatory odontogenic cyst, associated with a vital tooth.
Occur on lateral (usually ducal) aspect of a partially erupted, vital tooth.