OKC
Also written as: OKC — Odontogenic Keratocyst
Abbreviation for odontogenic keratocyst, a locally aggressive jaw cyst with a high recurrence rate.
Full Definition
OKC stands for odontogenic keratocyst and is the accepted abbreviation in oral and maxillofacial surgery literature, particularly after the 2017 WHO reclassification that reinstated the cyst designation. In documents, the full term should be written out on first use followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. Editors should be alert to the older abbreviation KCOT (keratocystic odontogenic tumour) appearing in pre-2017 literature or from authors still using the superseded classification. Inconsistent use of OKC and KCOT within a single document should be queried.
Usage
Usage note: Define on first use. Flag documents that use both OKC and KCOT interchangeably, as these refer to the same entity under different classification systems.
In Context
- "The biopsy result was consistent with an odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), requiring discussion at the multidisciplinary team meeting." — MDT referral note
- "OKC is associated with Gorlin syndrome and should prompt referral for genetic counselling when identified in young patients." — Clinical guidelines document