RESUMO
19 cases of ameloblastoma of the jaws in children and young adolescents were reviewed. During the period of evaluation, 113 patients with ameloblastoma of the craniofacial region were managed of which 16.8% were in patients aged < 18 years. The mean [SD] age of patients was 14.7 [ +/- 2.5] years [range, 10-18 years]. Male to female ratio 2:1; and mandible to maxilla ratio 18:1. Duration of the tumours at presentation ranged from 8 months to 5 years, [mean: SD = 3.3:1.5 years], 73.7% were of the multilocular type on radiographs and the most frequent histologic pattern was the plexiform type [n-12, 63.2%]. Due to the large size at presentation, radical mandibulectomy was the method of treatment in 12 cases [63.2%]. Recurrence was noticed in 4 patients [21%] within 5 years after primary surgery. Ameloblastoma is relatively rare in Nigerian children, the clinical features, radiologic and histologic patterns however, were found to be similar to that of adults