ANALYSIS OF 276 CASES OF ECTODERMAL ODONTOGENIC TUMOURS IN AN URBAN NIGERIAN POPULATION

Abstract

Background: Ectodermal odontogenic tumour is
characterized by odontogenic epithelium in a matured
fibrous connective tissue without odontogenic
ectomesenchyme. It develops directly from odontogenic
epithelial rest cells. They are the commonest group of
odontogenic tumours, some may be aggressive with local
invasion but they are generally benign tumours. Our aim
was to determine the prevalence and distribution pattern
of ectodermal odontogenic tumours at Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, in other to
update its tumour/ neoplastic register.
Methodology: Clinico-pathologic data on 276
histologically diagnosed cases of ectodermal
odontogenic tumours archived at LASUTH over a 14 year
period were retrieved from the oral biopsy files. Data
generated were reviewed and analyzed for age, sex, type
and location using the statistical package for social
sciences for windows 16.0 SPSS Inc., Chicago IL.
Frequency tables were generated.
Results: Two hundred and seventy-six cases of
ectodermal odontogenic tumours were diagnosed,
accounting for 94.5% of all odontogenic tumours and
28.4% of all oro-facial tumours. Male to female ratio was
1.3: 1. The mean age at diagnosis was 32.2 ± 12.9 (range
31/2- 83years), the peak incidence of occurrence was in
the 3rd decade of life. Ameloblastoma was the most
common, accounting for 246 (89.1%) cases and the
mandible was the most common site, accounting for 230
(85.2%) cases.
Conclusions: The rarity of malignant odontogenic
tumours is further confirmed by the fact that all the cases
of ectodermal odontogenic tumours reported in our series
are benign. We reported Ameloblastoma as the
commonest benign ectodermal odontogenic tumour,
majority of which were located centrally, within the bone,
with the posterior mandible accounting for the highest
incidence; further confirming rarity of the peripherally
located subtype of ameloblstoma.