Abstract
Ameloblastoma is one of the most common benign odontogenic tumours in Nigeria. It is considered uncommon in children. This is a retrospective study of pediatric patients with histopathological diagnosis of ameloblastoma seen over seven years at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. Relevant information was retrieved from patients' records and data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 23, the chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables, a p-value of <0.05 was considered as significant. One hundred and thirty-six cases of ameloblastoma in all age groups were seen within the period. Thirty of the cases met the requirement. The mean age of the patients was 14.4 STD 2.03 (range from 10-17) years. Fourteen (46.7%) patients were male while 16 (53.3%) were female giving a ratio of 1:1.1. The duration of the lesion ranged from 3 months to 72 months (mean 15.07 months). Histologically, the follicular type (n=20, 66.7%) constitute the majority, while the clinical types were solid-multicystic (n=18, 60%) and unicystic (n=12, 40%). Enucleation was the treatment of choice in most (n=18, (60%)) of the patients. Ameloblastoma is relatively uncommon in children, especially those less than ten years of age. The solid-multicystic variety was the predominant type in the children studied. Most patients presented long after the onset of the tumour and enucleation with mechanical curettage produced satisfactory results in these patients. None declared.
Highlights
Ameloblastoma is a benign odontogenic tumour that exhibits a variably aggressive biological behaviour as shown by its infiltrative growth pattern and marked tendency for recurrence and malignant transformation.[1]
Previous Nigerian study by Odukoya reported that odontogenic tumours (OT) constituted 19% of all orofacial tumours and tumour-like lesions
Treatment in children could be a challenge to the surgeon as they have to balance issues of recurrence with problems associated with radical surgical option in this age group. Several studies on this topic have been reported globally but no study has been done in South Eastern Nigeria, the purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of this tumour in South Eastern Nigeria among children to add to the literature on the subject
Summary
Ameloblastoma is a benign odontogenic tumour that exhibits a variably aggressive biological behaviour as shown by its infiltrative growth pattern and marked tendency for recurrence and malignant transformation.[1]. Ameloblastoma was the commonest OT, (58.5%) and showed a predilection for males and the posterior mandible.[3] It is commonly found around the 3rd and 4th decades of life and rarely in children. It occurs in almost all age groups.[4] About 10%–15% of ameloblastoma cases occur in the paediatric population.[1] Small and Waldron[5] described Ameloblastoma as a slow-growing lesion that often starts developing around early childhood and young age without manifesting until adulthood
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