Although mucosal antral cysts (MACs) are a frequent finding in surveys of panoramic radiographs in several western populations, its prevalence has not been reported in an oriental population. The panoramic radiographs of two sets of 1000 consecutive patients attending the University of Hong Kong Dental School in 1981 and 1990 were reviewed. The mean prevalence of MACs was 5.2% and they were twice as frequent in males. There was no significant difference in either the prevalence or the mean area of the MACs in patients with periapical bone loss and/or complaining of pain and swelling arising from dental disease in the adjacent maxillary alveolus when compared with those without. It is concluded that the prevalence and presentation of MACs in this oriental population is broadly consistent with that reported in western populations.