ABSTRACT
Background: Odontogenic tumours occur in our environment and because of late treatment; cause considerable disabilities. Objective: To review cases of odontogenic tumours in our centre in order to obtain a baseline data and subsequently compare the results with that obtained elsewhere. Patients and methods: Using hospital case files and register; we carried out a 15-year retrospective study of odontogenic tumours at the Dental and Maxillofacial Clinic; University of Calabar Teaching Hospital; Nigeria. The data documented include age; gender; duration of lesion; type of tumour; socio-economic class; type of surgery; and complaints during follow-up reviews. Results: Majority of the patients (n=49; 31.4) were in the third decade of life. There were 85 (54.5) males and 71 (45.5) females; giving male to female ratio of 1.2:1. There was a significant association between the type of odontogenic tumour and the age of occurrence (p=0.000). The longer the duration of symptoms before presentation; the larger the tumours (p=0.000). The benign odontogenic tumours were 151 (96.8); ameloblastoma (n=74; 47.4) being the commonest. Jaw resection (54.5) was the predominant treatment. Majority (58.0) of the complications following treatment were Facial deformity; malocclusion and impaired mastication. Conclusion: Majority of the patients was in the lower socio-economic class; presented late for treatment and a few with aesthetic and functional impairment returned for secondary surgery. The intervention of agencies of government and non-governmental organizations is required to assist these patients if we are to accomplish the core healthcare system values in our environment