Apical periodontal cysts correlate to dental caries, and derived from the epithelial rests of apical granuloma. The lesions are histologically characterized by infiltrates of monocytes/macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells and mast cells. In
addition,
cholesterol crystals and foam cells are found.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between chronic inflammatory cells, cholesterol crystals and foam cells.
@ES The results obtained were as follows:
@EN 1. In all apical periodontal cysts, mild to severe number of inflammatory cells could be observed, while foam cells and cholesterol crystals were found in varying number.
2. The cholesterol crystals were not always associated with foam cells.
3. The cholesterol crystals appeared as long narow spaces with pointed tips and cluster formation.
4. The foam cells and choesterol crystals surrounded by lymphocytes, plasma cells, and erythrocytes, hemosiderin pigments and giant t cells were observed.
5. Vast number of the cholesterol crystals and foam cells congregated in connective tissue, less frequently crystal mass eroded the epithelial lining and empties the crystal into the cystic cavity.
From above the results, it was found that cholesterol crystals and foam cells are characteristic findings and correlated to inflammatory reaction in apical periodontal cyst. It suggested that inflammation closely related to cholesterol crystals
and
foam
cells.
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