Odontogenic Keratocysts: Presentation and Surgical Outcome in a Sample of Sudanese Patients

BACKGROUND: Odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) is a benign intraosseous lesion relatively frequent in the oral cavity. It has a locally aggressive behavior and exhibits a high propensity to recur after treatment. The present study aimed to investigate the clinicoradiographic presentations and outcomes of surgical treatment of OKC at Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital. Material and Methods. Fifty-five cases of OKC files at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Khartoum Teaching Hospital between 2012 and 2022 were reviewed and studied using a descriptive prospective cross-sectional study. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. RESULTS: Out of 55 cases studied, the mean age at the time of diagnosis was 30 ± 17.6 years; of them, 28 (50.9%) were males and 27 (49.1%) were females. The most common clinical manifestation was swelling (34.9%), followed by pain (28.0%). Sixty-five percent of the OKCs were located in the posterior mandible, and multilocular radiolucency (73.6%) was the most prevalent radiological finding. Enucleation with Carnoy's solution (CS) (55.2%) was the most common surgical modality that was used in more than half the patients, and only six patients had a recurrence. Marsupialization and segmental resection had no recurrence, while marginal resection and curettage had the highest recurrence rate of 20%. Patients with consanguineous parents had a higher recurrence rate (15%) compared with patients who had nonconsanguineous parents (8.6%). None of the patients died or had a malignant transformation. CONCLUSION: The most common location for the cyst was the mandible, and multilocular radiolucency was the most prevalent radiological finding. Enucleation with CS was the most commonly used surgical modality, used in more than half of the patients, with only six patients experiencing recurrence.