Peripheral odontogenic keratocyst: report of two cases and review of the literature.

The odontogenic keratocyst is a developmental odontogenic cyst most commonly occurring in the jaws. In rare instances, however, this lesion has been reported to occur in the gingival soft tissues. Although most authors have regarded these soft tissue lesions to be peripheral odontogenic keratocysts, others have preferred to regard them as histopathologic variants of the gingival cyst of the adult. We document 2 additional cases occurring in the gingival soft tissues, and we review the existing literature concerning this unusual lesion. Given the distinct microscopic features and possible association with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, we favor the view that this lesion represents the soft tissue counterpart of the intraosseous odontogenic keratocyst.