ABSTRACT
Foamy macrophages were found in 57 out of the 87 cysts that contained cholesterol, which is 29% of all cysts. It has been appreciated for a long time that odontogenic cysts commonly contain cholesterol. The way in which cholesterol crystals are produced in cyst walls has remained a matter of speculation. Possible relationship to high plasma levels of cholesterol has been discounted. Hemosiderin was present in all but 1 of the 181 cholesterol-containing cysts. It was also observed in 107 of the remaining 386 cysts that did not show intramural cholesterol. The conventional histological sections provided the basis of the data but additional details often emerged from the subsequent examination of the more specialized preparations. The calcium lipase method was used to demonstrate triglycerides. Small amounts of brown staining occurred in the fibrous tissue of cyst walls independently of cholesterol deposits. Fat cells when present were stained but foamy macrophages were unstained.
