Radicular cysts arising from deciduous teeth. Review of the literature and report of 23 cases.

Radicular cysts arising from deciduous teeth are rare. 28 such cases have been recorded in the literature since 1898. In this study, we present 23 personally-observed cases of radicular cysts arising from deciduous teeth. The patients' ages ranged from 4 to 12 years with one exceptional case aged 19 years. The M:F ratio was 1.6:1. The mandible was affected more frequently than the maxilla and the deciduous molars were the teeth most commonly involved. 2 of the cysts presented multi-locular radiolucency; in 9 cases, buccal expansion was noticed and in 8 cases, permanent buds were displaced. Caries was the most common etiologic factor in the formation of the cysts. Histologically, cysts in varying stages of development were lined by proliferating non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium.