K. A. Ahmed, BDS, MSc,*
F. Al-Ashgar, BDS, MSc**
* Department of Biomedical Dental Sciences, King Saud University, College of Dentistry, P.O.Box 60169, Riyadh 11545, Saudi Arabia.
** Dental Department,  King Fahad National Guard  Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Solitary bone cyst (SBC), a relatively uncommon lesion of the jawbones is a type of the so-called "pseudocysts" of the jaws since the bone cavity is not lined with proper cystic membrane. The numerous synonyms coined with this lesion make it obvious that there has been much disagree­ment on the pathogenesis of the lesion. The SBC presents usually in the posterior region of the mandible and rarely in the maxilla. A case of anterior maxiilary SBC has been presented in a patient with hypothyroidism. The lesion presented itself as an asymptomatic buccal expansion above the upper central incisors with no history of previous local trauma. This article suggests possible rote of disturbed calcium metabolism as an etiologic factor for SBC in hypothyroidism patients and to present a review of the literature of the cyst.

Saudi Dental Journal 1991;3(3):109-113.