Gingival cysts of adults are rare developmental cysts, with an incidence of 0.3% among all odontogenic cysts. They are benign, well-defined nodules located on the attached gingiva with a fluid-filled appearance. The aim of the present study was to perform an analysis of gingival cysts in adults diagnosed at an oral pathology laboratory and a hospital pathology service in order to determine the frequency of occurrence of this lesion, and to perform a literature review to correlate the present findings with those described in the literature. This study emphasizes the low frequency of gingival cysts in adults and the importance of gathering clinical, radiographic and histopathological information to define the final diagnosis.