Clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic features of keratocystic odontogenic tumors: a review.

Keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs) are benign but locally aggressive lesions of the gnathic skeleton with high propensity to recur following surgical treatment. High proliferative activity of KCOTs epithelial cells is considered as one of the factors contributing to their aggressive clinical behavior. Aggressive growth within the jaws, tendency to invade surrounding anatomical structures and occasional malignant alteration are the features that distinguish KCOTs from other types of odontogenic tumors. Due to their unique clinical and biological features, KCOTs still present an important problem in oral and maxillofacial surgery. This is especially true when a choice of the most appropriate treatment modality should be made. Establishing balance between effective reduction of recurrence risk and selection of a less aggressive surgical procedure is an issue that should be carefully considered for each individual patient.