How well do we manage the odontogenic keratocyst? A multicenter study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to answer the following clinical questions: Among patients treated for odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs), what is the overall 5-year disease-free rate, and what factors are associated with disease recurrence?

Study Design: We implemented a multicenter retrospective cohort study composed of patients presenting for the evaluation and management of previously untreated OKCs. The predictor variables were grouped into demographic, medical, radiographic, and operative categories. The primary outcome variable was time to lesion recurrence. Data analyses were performed by using bivariate analysis and univariate or multivariate Cox proportional hazards models.

Results: The study sample was composed of 231 OKCs. Of these, 57 (24.7%) were treated with decompression with residual cystectomy, 86 (37.2%) with enucleation without adjuvant therapy, and 78 (33.8%) with enucleation with peripheral ostectomy. There were 44 recurrences (19%), with a median time to recurrence of 26.7 months (range 15.8-49.8).

Conclusions: This multicenter study is the largest study analyzing disease recurrence after treatment of OKCs by using appropriate statistical analysis for a time-to-event outcome (disease recurrence). The 5-year disease-free estimate was 29%. Mandibular lesions, multilocular lesions, and lesions treated with decompression and residual cystectomy were associated with recurrence.