Odontogenic keratocyst: diagnostic characteristics and conservative surgical treatment

Keratocyst is a benign odontogenic lesion with aggressive behavior, probably derived from the dental lamina. It is frequently located in the posterior part of the mandibular bone in the area of ​​the third molar, mandibular angle and can progress towards the ramus and the body, presenting a direct association with retained dental organs. There is a wide variety of techniques for the treatment of this lesion, such as decompression, marsupialization, enucleation, and en bloc resection, as well as the combination of these with adjuvant methods. The interest in this lesion stems from its high recurrence rate, which is estimated to be 20-30% in the general population, however, at present the use of conservative treatments such as marsupialization and decompression has been chosen. demonstrated greater effectiveness and less recurrence. This is why after treating the lesions it is important to give a long-term follow-up.The objective of the publication is to present the report of a clinical case of a 21-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of odontogenic keratocyst treated with a decompression technique for five months for subsequent surgical enucleation. It has been proven that decompression treatment followed by enucleation and accompanied by adjuvant methods is an adequate therapeutic management for keratocysts as it demonstrates its lower rate of recurrence and its noble behavior with neighboring vital structures. However, in all cases, regular monitoring should be carried out to prevent recurrence of the lesion.