comparison of mast cells count in odontogenic cysts using histochemical staining

background &amp; objectives: odontogenic cysts are among the most frequent destructive lesions of jaws which their pathogenesis and growth mechanism are not cleared. with respect to different roles of mast cells, they may play a role in the pathogenesis and growth of odontogenic cysts. the aim of present study was to evaluate mast cells in the most common odontogenic cyst. methods: thirty  paraffin-embedded  tissue  blocks  including  10  radicular  cysts,  10  dentigerous  cysts and 10 odontogenic keratocysts were used and 5 micron sections stained with toluidine blue and observed by light microscope under ×400 magnification to evaluate mast cells within these cysts. for each case, 5 high-power field areas, selected from hot-spot areas, were considered and each area divided into 3 zones: intra-epithelial zone, sub-epithelial zone and deep zone. results: most of the studied cyst showed presence of mast cells. there was not any significant difference in mast cell count between studied cysts (p-values > 0.05).with respect to intra-epithelial, sub-epithelial and deep zones, there was not any significant difference between three studied cysts. there was not any significant difference between sub-epithelial zone and deep zone within each of these cysts. there was only significant difference between intra-epithelial zone and sub-epithelial zone within dentigerous cysts and odontogenic keratocysts (p-value < 0.05). conclusion: prevalence of mast cells in fibrous wall of odontogenic cysts suggests their activity in these cysts. mast cells may not be directly involved in the pathogenesis of odontogenic keratocysts.