Statistical evaluation of ameloblastoma on the relationship between radiological and clinical characteristics

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Very high aggressiveness and recurrence are important clinical characteristics of ameloblastoma compared to the other benign tumors. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan is important. This study examined the association of the clinical findings and recurrence based on the radiological findings of ameloblastoma. In recurrent cases, these results are expected to help in the diagnosis and treatment of ameloblastoma to examine the relevance with the clinical characteristics and radiological features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For a clinical (gender, age) and radiological (location, internal pattern, size, perforation, border pattern, impacted tooth, root resorption) evaluation , this study examined 156 cases of 147 patients diagnosed with ameloblastoma, who had been treated and in most cases regularly checked at the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, between January 1993 and December 2009. For a recurrent rate evaluation, a more than 3 years follow-up period is needed. Accordingly, 116 patients diagnosed with ameloblastoma between January 1994 and December 2007 were investigated. RESULTS: The recurrence rate in all cases was 6.1% but was 7.8% in cases with follow-up periods more than 3 years. The male-to-female ratio was 32, showing a slight male predilection. Ameloblastoma had a peak occurrence in the second decade of life followed by the fourth decade of life. The mandibular angle area is the most frequent site of ameloblastoma (50.8%) in the jaws. Six cases of unilocular (7.8%) and 3 cases of multilocular (7.7%) ameloblastomas recurred. Seven cases of smooth (10%) and 2 cases of irregular (4.3%) ameloblastomas recurred. No cases of ameloblastomas without perforation of the cortical bone (0%) and 9 cases with a perforation of cortical bone (11.1%) recurred. Four cases of the ameloblastomas with impacted teeth (11.4%) and 5 cases of ameloblastomas without impacted tooth (6.2%) recurred. Seven cases of ameloblastomas with root resorption (10.9%) and 2 cases of ameloblastomas without root resorption (3.8%) recurred. CONCLUSION: A multiple smooth margin, unilocular ameloblastoma with an impacted tooth, root resorption tends to recur more easily. Therefore, they need to be treated more carefully and require a a longer follow-up.