AMELOBLASTOMA - CLINICAL-FEATURES AND MANAGEMENT OF 315 CASES FROM KADUNA, NIGERIA

This paper reviews 315 cases of ameloblastoma seen and managed at the Oral and Maxillofacial Clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Hospital, Kad una, Nigeria over a 20-year period. The data collected on age at prese ntation, sex distribution, clinical presentation and modalities of tre atment are analysed and discussed. A male preponderance was found, wit h peak presentation in the third and fourth decades of life. Few patie nts presented with mucosal ulceration, while some presented atypically with expansion of either the lingual or buccal cortical plate of the mandible. Resection of the lesion with dento-alveolar bone and preserv ation of the lower border of the mandible is effective conservative ma nagement in patients with an intact lower border. We do not recommend curettage or enucleation because of the frequency of recurrence. One h undred percent success was recorded in the patients rehabilitated usin g autogenous bone grafts. Where practicable, bone grafting should be d one immediately to avoid the common complications of displacement of b ony remnants and occlusal disharmony that occur when grafting is delay ed.