Ameloblastoma of the jaws: a retrospective analysis of 340 cases in a Malaysian population.

PURPOSE Ameloblastoma of the human jaw is an uncommon but clinically significant odontogenic epithelial neoplasm. The aim was to analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics of ameloblastoma in a Malaysian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a retrospective study (1993 through 2008) of consecutive ameloblastoma cases accessioned in 2 main oral pathology diagnostic centers: the Unit of Stomatology, Institute for Medical Research and the Department of Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine, and Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Data on patient demographics, tumor location, symptomology, duration, radiographic appearance, preoperative diagnosis, clinicopathologic subtypes, treatment, and recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS Three hundred forty cases of ameloblastoma were reviewed. These were from 197 male patients (57.9%) and 143 female patients (42.1%), with a male-to-female ratio of 1.4:1. A wide age range (7 to 85 years), mean onset age of 30.3 ± 16.3 years, and peak incidence in the second decade of life were recorded. Most were mandibular tumors (n = 311/340, 91.5%). These consisted of 95 (28%) unicystic ameloblastomas, 221 (65%) solid/multicystic ameloblastomas, 22 (6.4%) desmoplastic ameloblastoma, and 2 (0.6%) peripheral ameloblastomas. Unicystic ameloblastoma (41.1%) and solid/multicystic ameloblastoma (52.0%) mostly affected Malays patients, whereas desmoplastic ameloblastoma (59.1%) was prevalent in Chinese patients. Unicystic ameloblastoma (56.8%) and solid/multicystic ameloblastoma (47.1%) occurred predominantly in the body and posterior mandible, whereas desmoplastic ameloblastoma (36.4%) preferentially involved the anterior jaw segment. Most tumors presented as multilocular radiolucencies (36.8%). Enucleation (n = 42/92, 45.7%) was the treatment of choice. About 18 cases (13.3%) presented with recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Because ameloblastoma subsets differ in their biologic behavior, the present data are significant as baseline references for clinicians and pathologists.