An Unusual Representation of an Odontogenic Cyst Engulfing the Inferior Alveolar Nerve

Abstract

This report investigates the growth of an odontogenic cyst around the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), a crucial vital structure to be approached during oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures. A unique aspect of this case was that the cyst completely engulfed the IAN rather than displacing it and left the patient asymptomatic. Under general anesthesia, complete enucleation of the cyst was performed while the IAN was dissected away. The patient had a temporary neurosensory dysfunction, which they fully recovered from. It is extremely rare for pathological entities to engulf the mandibular canal (MC); however, if the lesion is noninvasive, an excellent prognosis is likely to be expected.