Gross surgical features and treatment outcome of ameloblastoma at a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Background: Ameloblastoma is a benign odontogenic tumour which is locally infiltrative and may cause severe craniofacial deformities. Its epidemiology, clinical and histologic configurations are replete in local and international literature, but data about its gross surgical patterns and treatment outcome in Nigeria is sparse. We therefore describe the clinical, gross surgical configuration, histopathologic features and the outcome of management seen at a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Methods: Records of all histologically diagnosed Ameloblastoma from January 2000 to December 2011 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, were retrieved from the departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral Pathology. Patients' biodata, clinical, radiographical, gross surgical and histological features of the tumours, type of treatment, mode of jaw reconstruction and post-surgical follow up period data were documented.

Results: One hundred and sixty-three ameloblastomas were diagnosed during the study period, only 92 had complete records and were therefore included in the study. The mean age was 34.2 years (+/- 14.25) and the male to female ratio was 1:1.1. Majority of the patients were in the low socioeconomic class (67.4%). Majority of the patients (76.5%) had segmental jaw resection and reconstruction was done mainly with non-vascularised iliac crest grafts. The gross surgical configurations were described as solid, cavitated and cystic.

Conclusion: Despite the locally aggressive nature of ameloblastoma, patients presented late for treatment and majority of them had segmental jaw resection as a mode of treatment. Three gross surgical configurations of the specimens were described.