Desmoplastic ameloblastoma: analysis of 17 Nigerian cases

Objective. This study aimed to add to existing knowledge on 90 cases of desmoplastic ameloblastoma (DA) previously reported in the scientific literature and analyze data that could help speculate on its biologic profile. Study design. From 330 cases of ameloblastoma (pooled from 573 histologically diagnosed odontogenic tumours) 17 cases of DA were retrieved and analyzed for estimated mean growth rate (EMGR) and histologic variants. EMGR for DA was compared with EMGR for conventional ameloblastoma (CA), as recorded over the same period of 38 years. Results. Desmoplastic ameloblastoma had predilection for mandible (81.2%), posterior mandible being the most commonly affected, contrary to scientific literature reports of anterior maxillary predilection. Simple DA (88.0%) and DA with osteoplasia (12.0%) were the histologic variants observed. EMGR for DA (0.36 +/- 0.44 cm/mo) was significantly less than EMGR (0.71 +/- 1.16 cm/mo) for CA (P = .000480). Conclusion. This study speculates that DA tends to be less biologically aggressive than CA and has predilection for posterior mandible in Nigerians. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2011;111:e27-e31)