Purpose: to review in detail various aspects of odontogenic keratocyst, emphasizing recent nomenclature, clinical, histopathological, recurrence, and management of odontogenic keratocyst. Methods: To achieve the objective of this review, a manual search was done in hard copy books of oral and maxillofacial pathology, and an electronic search was done in the google website, oral and maxillofacial pathology E-books, virtual database sites, such as PubMed, Research Gate, Academia, and Google scholar using the descriptors: odontogenic cyst, kerato odontogenic tumor, odontogenic keratocyst, and jaws cystic lesion. The eligibility criteria for selecting articles were: to be in the English language, studies published in journals, or indexed in these databases until 2021. Exclusion criteria were: articles in any languages other than English, studies presented in duplicate between the bases, whose theme did not contemplate the objective proposed in this review, or those not available in the digital environment. Data collection occurred from October to December 2020, followed by a thorough evaluation of the studies found, including an exploratory, selective, analytical, and interpretative reading. Summary and conclusions: the odontogenic keratocyst is noteworthy because of its unusual growth pattern, the tendency to recur, and association with an inherited syndrome. The renaming of odontogenic keratocysts as keratocystic odontogenic tumors has been one of the most debatable changes in the terminology of odontogenic lesions in recent years. Early diagnose of this lesion is important to perform the more conservative treatment. A wait-and-see policy, with yearly follow-up for the first five years and every two years after that, is strongly advocated.

Cystic conditions of the jaw cause bony destruction and may cause resorption or displacement of adjacent teeth. Odontogenic cysts have developmental or inflammatory origins. To describe in detail the inflammatory odontogenic cysts, a manual search was done in hard copy books of oral and maxillofacial pathology, and an electronic search was done in the google website, oral and maxillofacial pathology E-books, PubMed, Research Gate, Academia, and Google scholar using the keywords "odontogenic cysts," "classification of the odontogenic cysts," "radicular cyst," "periapical cyst," "lateral inflammatory cyst," "residual cyst," "paradental cyst," "collateral inflammatory cyst," "treatment of inflammatory odontogenic cysts," and matching each odontogenic inflammatory cyst subtype with these words "gross description," "pathogenesis," "microscopical,"  clinical," "radiographical" appearance. Articles published till February 2021 were included in this review.  In conclusion, an accurate diagnosis of an inflammatory odontogenic cyst requires information relative to its clinical, radiographical, macro- and microscopical findings. In many instances, two cysts that are classified differently may exhibit similar histopathological features. In such cases, clinical and radiographic findings are necessary to make a precise diagnosis.