Cytokeratin and fibronectin expression in orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst: A comparative immunohistochemical study

BACKGROUND: The orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst (OOC) is a rare developmental jaw cyst. It is crucial to distinguish it from keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) in all parameters including clinical behavior, immunohistochemical (IHC) profile and prognosis. This study aimed to analyze the IHC expression of cytokeratins and fibronectin in OOC, epidermoid cyst and dermoid cyst (EDC/DMC), dentigerous cyst (DC) and KCOT in order to explicate the pathogenesis of OOC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five cases of all study groups were incubated with CK10, CK13, CK19 and fibronectin antibodies and staining was assessed in the basal, intermediate and surface layers of epithelium. All the data were analyzed by SPSS software. Nonparametric Chi-square test and Spearman's correlation test were applied. RESULTS: The overall expression pattern of CK10, CK13 and CK19 was similar and resembled each other in the study groups of OOC and EDC. The immunoexpression was almost akin to each other in DC and KCOT. CONCLUSION: It was inferred from the results that the IHC profile of OOC is different from DC and KCOT and closer to EDC.