Ameloblastoma of the jaws—a clinical and radiographic retrospective study

Abstract

Objective

Ameloblastoma is a rare, benign, slowly growing, locally aggressive odontogenic neoplasm. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence, patient demographics, clinical and radiographic presentations of ameloblastoma.

Study Design

This retrospective study reviewed a total of 2500 patients at the University of Florida Health Science Center and Shands hospital with a diagnosis of benign and malignant tumors to look for ameloblastoma cases from January 2011 to June 2023. There were 43 patients diagnosed as having ameloblastomas. Only 38 were included in this study. The inclusion criteria were patients with a confirmed biopsy and a radiograph prior to surgical management.

Results

The age range was between 9 and 79 years, with a mean of 42.6 years with equal number of cases seen between males and females. In total, 92% of these lesions were in the mandible with 83% in the posterior region. There was an equal distribution between unilocular and multilocular cases. One case was diagnosed as ameloblastic carcinoma. There was a significant correlation between the patient's age and the locularity of the lesion, with unilocular lesions occurring more in younger patients under 18 (P < .5). In total, 29% were located pericoronally and 64% of them were unilocular. 94% of cases had expansion, 97% with cortical thinning and 79% had displacement of adjacent structures.

Conclusion

Unilocular lesions are predominant in younger patients. Most pericoronal ameloblastomas were unilocular and all were located in the posterior mandible.