This study reports the incidence and recurrence rate of odontogenic keratocysts in a series of 531 jaw cysts treated at the Department of Oral Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, from 1977 to 1984. Each case of a histologically verified odontogenic keratocyst was analysed and registered with respect to patient's age and sex, type of cyst, location and rate of recurrence. Twenty-nine odontogenic keratocysts were found (5.4% of all cysts). The most frequent locations were in the mandibular angle, ramus and third molar regions. During the observation period (1-8 years) 7 keratocysts (24%) recurred. These findings support previous observations.