Squamous cell carcinoma arising from a dentigerous cyst – Report of a case and review of literature

Odontogenic cysts are a benign group of lesions occurring in the head and neck region with minimal propensity for complications. Occasionally a neoplasm might arise from the lining of such odontogenic cysts. Although relatively rare, dentigerous cysts might also show malignant changes. Till date, only 22 well-documented cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising from the lining of a dentigerous cyst have been reported in the English language literature. In this article, we report another case of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma arising in a dentigerous cyst and review relevant literature with emphasis on the pathogenesis.