Histopathological Examination and Literature Review of Orthokeratinized Odontogenic Cyst

Background: With transitions in the disease concept of orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst (OOC), the pathogenesis and etiology have not been suffi-ciently elucidated. Objectives: OOC cases were reclassified and observed to understand the clinico-histopathological characteristics. In addition, literature review of OOC was performed to better organize the pathology. Materials and methods: Subjects with jawbone cysts lined by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium from 2005 to 2018 were reclassified, and clinico-histopathological findings were analyzed. Previous reports of OOC/orthokeratinized-type odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) from 1980 to 2019 were organized. Results: Five cases of OOC were diagnosed, representing 2.1% of odontogenic developmental cysts (total, 239 cases). Mean age was 37.6 years, with a female predominance. The mandibular molar area was the frequent site, and all cysts were solitary. Sixty percent involved an impacted tooth. Mean maximum diameter of the cyst was 2.2 cm. Histopathologically, 4 cases were unilocular, and partial palisading of the basal layer and scattered epithelial islands were observed in 2 cases each and formation of daughter cysts was noted in 3 cases. Previous papers described that most were unilocular and related to impacted teeth. Mean age ranged between 20 and 40 years, and the mandibular molar region was dominant. Recurrence rates were low. Conclusion: OOC shows a different biological attitude to OKC and is closer to dentigerous cyst. Meanwhile, OOC shows a similar histology of epidermoid cysts accompanying the granular layer. We thus surmised that OCC represents an independent concept as an odontogenic developmental cyst.


Introduction
Discussion of the diagnosis and classification of jawbone cysts has been continuing since Robinson first described classification based on the occurrence of epithelial tissue [1]. Orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst (OOC) has been considered as a type of odontogenic keratocyst (OKC). This concept, independent of odontogenic developmental cyst, has been inherited by the WHO classification of Head and Neck Tumours (WHO) [2], because of the many single cystic cases, involving an impacted tooth in around half of the cases and a lower frequency of postoperative recurrence. OOC was therefore defined as an odontogenic developmental cyst relined by orthokeratinized stratified squamous epithelium with a granule layer [3].
In recent years, the disease definition of OOC has been clarified. As a result, previous studies may have included some cases that should not have been included cysts with orthokeratinized cells in part of the lining epithelium of the OKC. With the transitions in the disease concept of OOC, the level of elucidation of the pathogenesis and etiology is now inadequate. Accordingly, jawbone cysts lining with keratinized stratified squamous epithelium were selected and reclassified in terms of OOC cases in accordance with the WHO [3] to clarify clinical and histopathological characteristics. In addition, a review of previous case reports and original papers on OOC was performed to better organize the pathology.

Materials and Methods
The present study was conducted in two parts: clinico-pathological and literature review studies.

Subjects
Subjects with odontogenic developmental cyst lined by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium in the jawbone were selected from the data files of the

Histopathological Analysis
Surgical materials were fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin solution according to the usual method and embedded in paraffin. Specimens were prepared with a thickness of 4 μm. Specimens were stained then stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and the cyst wall structure was observed in detail. Observation

Review of Literature
Previous reports of OOC or orthokeratinized-type OKC were identified from a search of MEDLINE (National center for biotechnology information) for the period from 1980 to 2019. All the literature that was extracted was analyzed.

Compliance with Ethical Standards
Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in the study. All

Histopathological Findings
Representative histopathological findings are shown in Figure 1. In all cases, the cystic wall was lined by orthokeratinized stratified squamous epithelium with the appearance of the granular layer, and the cyst cavity were filled with feathery squamous material resembling the stratum corneum ( Figure 1(a)). Four cases were unilocular, and one case was multilocular ( Figure 1 (Figure 1(g)). Large peripheral nerves and blood vessels containing muscle fibers in the walls were not observed in the subepithelial connective tissue, but scattered epithelial islands were seen in 2 cases (Figure 1(c), arrowhead) and formation of daughter cysts was noted in 3 cases (Figure 1(h), arrow). The degree of inflammatory cell infiltration varied from mild to high.
Granulation tissue with cholesterin crystals was seen in 2 cases. No skin appendages were apparent in the cyst wall of any cases.

Review of Literatures of OCC
Case reports of OCC are shown in Table 1 [4]- [11]. Ten cases were single, and    [15]. Mean age ranged between 20 and 40 years, and gender differences were sometimes observed, depending on the report. Wright [12] described the cases involving the lower jaw was superior, and Crowley et al. [13] and MacDonald et al. [16] mentioned the advantage occurs in the posterior region.

Discussion
Primordial cyst (PC) and OKC were classified as independent pathological entities in 2005 WHO classification of head and neck tumors [2]. Orthokeratinized-type PC has been suggested to be more appropriately named OOC [19] [20]. Further, PC, OKC and OOC are all described independently in the classification of Neville et al. [21]. Meanwhile, cases with mixed para-and orthokeratinized stratified squamous cell layers are treated as keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT). Because a high rate of recurrence is seen with the mixed type [15], differentiation from OOC is important in planning treatment and follow-up.
Several theories have been advanced regarding the frequency of OOC, with only 9 cases reported over a period of 20 years in Malaysia [22]. On the other hand, Mizuta et al. [15] [14]. A frequency of 2.1% was seen in the present study, and additional statistical information needs to be accumulated in the future incorporating the changes in disease concept.
OOC occurs over a broad age range, with a predilection for 30 -40 years old, and has been described as showing a male predominance in previous studies [18] [24]. On the other hand, other reports have described 57% of patients as in their 20s [14] [15], and previous reports [16] [24] with a mean age of 37.6 years and a female predominance. Average age in the present case was 42.9 years, and a slight maledominance was seen. Site of occurrence was reported as the lower jaw molar area to lower jaw branch in 71.4% by Iwabuchi et al. [14] and 100% by Mizuta et al. [15], respectively. Site of occurrence in the present study was the mandibularmolar area in 80.0%. Both theories have been described in terms of the presence or absence of impacted teeth [4]- [11]. Although many previous re- Histopathologically, the average thickness of the lining epithelium was 4 -8 layers, with partial thickening observed in 17% of all cases [12]. Concerning rete ridges, 10% were flat and in contact with non-inflammatory connective tissue, and 23% were extended and showed contact with inflammatory granulation tissue [12]. These histopathological findings in the present study were consistent with previous findings [12]. Wright [12] described 2% of cases as showing no granular cell layer, whereas all cases were accompanied by that layer in the present study. Diagnostic evidence for OOC is a covering of orthokeratinized stratified squamous epithelium over the granular layer. Locally, OOC is attenuated keratinocyte by inflammatory change, it was described that must be merely local [12]. Stroma essentially comprised dense fibrous connective tissue, with variations in the degree of inflammation observed between cases. Concerning about the basal cell layer of OOC, cuboidal and squamous cells were often mixed [12], and this character was similar to the present results. Conversely, neoplastic characteristics of the basal cells are poor; i.e., no palisading and poor bud-like proliferation and daughter cyst formation [12] [23]. However, these findings were also observed in some cases in the present study.
Reports have described varying recurrence rates for OOC, of: 0.0% [14] [15], 1.7% [12], 2.2% [13], and 4.2% [16], generally showing a low value. In the present study, the postoperative observation period was generally short and there was a limitation, but the recurrence rate was 0.0%. Accordingly, treatment of OOC using cystectomy was not discussed. Mostcases of OOC have emerged as a painless swelling [13] [18], and many cases are discovered incidentally on x-ray examination. OOC typically appears as a unilocular cyst accompanied by an impacted tooth in the half as dentigerous cyst (DC) [13] [18]. OOC shows a different biological attitude to OKC and is closer to DC rather than OKC, namely. Meanwhile, OOC shows a similar histology of epidermoid cysts accompanying the granular layer [12] [24] [25]. Besides, the pathogenesis is also referred to as aberrant ectodermal tissue due to trauma [26], but it is unclear. We thus surmised that OCC represents an independent concept as an odontogenic developmental cyst. However, Siar et al. [27] have reported squamous cell carcinoma accompanying OOC, facilitating early detection and appropriate treatment.
Although OOC and PC show similar predilections, discussion of the generation of both has been left. Li [23] described the origin of OOC as the tooth crest.
However, Takeda et al. [28] have reported the presence of dermoid cyst arising from the jawbone. Consequently, basis for deciding on an odontogenic derivation for all jawbone cyst with orthokeratinized stratified squamous epithelium is insufficient. In addition, 2 cases of OOC that occurred in the gingiva have been reported previously [29] [30]. In the future, elucidation of the pathogenesis based on the accumulation of further cases and clarification of the molecular pathology will be needed.

Conclusions
Within this limitation of this study, the following could be concluded: 1) OOC was occupied 2.1% of odontogenic developmental cysts with the mandibular molar area predominance in the present study.
2) Previous papers described that most were solitary, unilocular and related to impacted teeth.
3) OOC shows a different biological attitude to OKC and is closer to DC rather than OKC.