Oral surgery II: Part 3. Cysts of the mouth and jaws and their management.

A cyst may be defined as a pathological (or abnormal) body cavity, usually lined by epithelium, which contains fluid (gas or liquid) or semi-solid substances other than (primarily) pus. Even this definition is contentious, as some pathologists prefer the term pseudocyst or cavity when there is no epithelial lining. However, the above definition, based on that of Kramer, is as inclusive as possible. Cysts of the mouth and jaws are fairly common and their management is an essential component of oral surgery. This third article in the series deals with the classification, diagnosis and management of the common cysts of the head and neck.