Clinicopathologic features of ameloblastoma in southern Brazil: A 55-year single-center analysis

Abstract

Objective: Ameloblastoma is a benign odontogenic tumor (OT) originating from the proliferation of odontogenic epithelium without involvement of the mesenchymal tissue. The aims of the present study were to perform a retrospective analysis of ameloblastoma, compare the findings with those described in previous studies and outline the epidemiological profile of this type of tumor in southern Brazilian population. Methods: Cases of ameloblastoma were retrieved between 1954 and 2009 from a single center and analyzed for age, gender, ethnic, primary site and histological type. Cases were classified according to the 2005 WHO classification of OTs. Results: Descriptive statistical analysis of the data was performed, with the determination of the frequency of the categorical variables. Eighty-nine cases of ameloblastoma were found: 78 cases of solid tumor (88.6%), two cases of desmoplastic tumor (2.2%) and nine cases of the unicystic tumor (10.2%). There was a predominance of the female gender (58.4%) and Caucasian ethnicity (62.9%). Most ameloblastomas were located in the mandible (78.6%) and 40.2% occurred prior to the third decade of life. Conclusion: The present findings are in agreement with those reported in previous studies carried out in other states of Brazil and support that notion that there may be a geographical influence on the profile of patients affected by ameloblastoma.