Abstract
Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of aspiration cytology of lesions of the jaw bone, and to compare the cytological and histopathological findings among the cases.
Study Design : Samples from jaw bone lesions were obtained from 35 cases for which both clinical and histological diagnoses were available.
Results : Cytologically, 27 samples were negative (77.1%), 2 were positive (5.7%) and 6 were inadequate for diagnosis (17.1%). The estimated diagnoses for the negative cases were cysts of the jaw bone (9 cases ; 33.3%), inflammation (9 cases ; 33.3%), ameloblastomas (5 cases ; 18.5%), and keratocystic odotogenic tumors (4 cases ; 14.8%). The definitive diagnoses of the cysts of the jaw bone were radicular cysts in 3 cases, postoperative maxillary cysts in 3 cases, and dentigerous cysts in 3 cases. Both the cytology-positive cases were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. The diagnostic accuracy rates for keratocystic odontogenic cyst and squamous cell carcinoma, and the diagnostic sensitivity rates for ameloblastoma and cysts of the jaw bone were all 100%. Cytologically, radicular cysts showed loosely coherent polygonal cells with central round nuclei against an inflammatory background. Dentigerous cysts showed small numbers of cell clusters composed of uniform, cuboidal epithelial cells with round nuclei and an increased nucleus/cytoplasm ratio. Keratocystic odontogenics cyst showed scant to moderate number of cells, mostly as scattered keratinized round or odontogenic cells with pyknotic, round nuclei against a background of keratin debris or amorphous material. Ameloblastoma showed varied findings, with clusters of small odontogenic cells like “naked nuclei” , small to medium-sized polygonal cells with projections and squamous metaplasia against a mild inflammatory background.
Conclusion : Since aspiration cytology is a useful screening method for lesions of the jaw bone, an understanding of the differential diagnoses and further accumulation of cell findings are required.
