DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2017.v04i12.002

Pages: 535-539

Keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) is a unique cyst because of its locally aggressive behavior, high recurrence rate, and histological characteristic appearance. The maxillary presentation is rare. This paper reports a case of maxillary KCOT successfully treated with radical enucleation. A 23-year-old female patient was referred to our department to search for a possible dental etiology to a right upper facial cellulitis. Radiology showed a well-limited unilocular radiolucent area, between the teeth 15 and 16 which were displaced. Initially, a lateral periodontal cyst was suspected. An enucleation of the cyst was performed. Histology concluded on a maxillary KCOT. A follow up at 9 months showed complete healing with no signs of recurrence. No consensus exists concerning KCOT management. The most conservative treatment used is enucleation. However, it had a high recurrence rate of 56% up to 10 years after treatment compared with other methods which explain the need for long-term follow-up.