The lateral periodontal cyst: aetiology, clinical significance and diagnosis

The lateral periodontal cyst (LPC) is a relatively uncommon but widely reco gnized odontogenic cyst of developmental origin. It is found mostly in adul ts and has no sex predilection. LPC is usually discovered during routine ra diographic examination, is located mainly between the roots of vital mandib ular canines and premolars, and seldom causes pain or other clinical sympto ms. The defect appears on radiographs as a round or teardrop-shaped, well c ircumscribed radiolucency. Due to its location it can easily be misdiagnose d as a lesion of endodontic origin. In this paper, two cases of lateral per iodontal cysts are presented. In the first case, the patient (woman, 62 yea rs old) complained of an asymptomatic gingival swelling in the region betwe en the right maxillary canine and premolar. The radiographic examination re vealed a well circumscribed radiolucency with a radiopaque margin between t he roots of the canine and premolar. The adjacent teeth had vital pulp Surg ical enucleation of the lesion was performed and the histological examinati on revealed that die lesion was a "lateral periodontal cyst of developmenta l origin". In the second case, the patient (woman, 44 years old) compained of a swelling in the area of tooth 32. During radiographic examination a we ll circumscribed radiolucency between the roots of the lateral incisor and the canine was discovered. Surgical enucleation of the lesion was performed and the histological examination revealed that the lesion was a "lateral p eriodontal cyst of developmental origin".