GLANDULAR ODONTOGENIC CYST: CLINICOPATHOLOGIC PROFILE OF 4 CASES

Glandular odontogenic cyst (GOC) is a rare aggressive developmental cyst with epithelial features that simulate glandular differentiation. It has a tendency for erosion of cortical bone and propensity for recurrence. GOC occurs mainly in the anterior mandible with a painless swelling. It is characterized by variable thickness of the epithelium cyst, epithelial spheres, luminal layer of cuboidal to low columnar cells, apocrine metaplasia of the luminal cells, cilia, papillary projections, intraepithelial microcysts, clear cells, mucous cells, and multiple cystic compartments. We report 4 cases of GOC and highlight their main clinicopathologic aspects. Two females and two males, 33, 46, 49, 62 years old, respectively, presented with swellings in the anterior mandible. The lesions were multilocular or unilocular. The diagnostic hypotheses were a dentigerous cyst and ameloblastoma. Microscopically, the cysts exhibited at least 7 criteria necessary for the diagnosis of GOC. The patients remain free of any recurrence 3 years after surgery.