Prevalence of Postoperative Maxillary Cyst Significantly Higher in Japan

To analyze the prevalence of postoperative maxillary cyst (POMC), we reviewed cysts occurring in the maxillary and mandibular jaw bones from the files of Tokyo Medical and Dental University from 1976 to 2001. Among 7,105 cases of intrabony jaw cysts, 1,141 cases (16%) were POMC. The high incidence of POMC among intrabone jaw cysts was also reported by other institutions or hospitals in Japan. Collaborating pathologists in other countries examined the prevalence of the lesion in their universities or hospitals and it was acknowledged to be low. This study suggests a significantly higher prevalence of POMC among the Japanese.