Glandular odontogenic cyst (GOC) is a rare odontogenic developmental cyst that was classified by WHO in 1992. GOC was first proposed by Gardner et al. as a new pathological entity of odontogenic cyst in 1988.
This paper reports a case of GOC arising in the right ramus region of the mandible. The patient was a 62-year-old male who visited Dental Clinic of Akita City Hospital in January 1992.
Physical examination revealed asymptomatic slight swelling in the lower right third molar region. The gingival and alveolar mucosae were of nomal appearence. Radiological examination revealed well-defined unilocular radiolucent lesion involving the root of the horizontally impacted third molar in the right ramus region of the mandible.
The presumptive diagnosis was odontogenic cyst. Enucleation of the cyst and extraction of the tooth were performed under local anesthesia. The surgical specimen was 40×15×10 mm in size. The cyst contained brown-colored fluid with cholesterol crystals.
Microscopical examination showed that the cystic wall was covered with ciliated columnar epithelium, and non-keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium with plaque-like thickenings. In the epithlium, there were cyst-like spaces and glandular structures filled with PAS positive mucous material. Daughter cysts and epithelial islands were seen in connective tissue of the cyst.
Pathological diagnosis was GOC. The healing process has been uneventful and there has been no evidence of recurrence for 4 years postoperatively.
