A study of 1177 odontogenic lesions in a South Kerala population

CONTEXT: A study on odontogenic cysts and tumors. AIMS: The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of odontogenic cysts and tumors and their distribution according to age, gender, site and histopathologic types of those reported over a period of 1998-2012 in a Tertiary Health Care Center at South Kerala. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The archives of Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, were retrospectively analyzed. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Archival records were reviewed and all the cases of odontogenic cysts and tumors were retrieved from 1998 to 2012. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using the computer software, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) IBM SPSS Software version 16. RESULTS: Of 7117 oral biopsies, 4.29% were odontogenic tumors. Ameloblastoma was the most common odontogenic tumor comprising 50.2% of cases, followed by keratocystic odontogenic tumor (24.3%). These tumors showed a male predilection (1.19: 1). Odontogenic tumors occurred in a mean age of 33.7 ± 16.8 years. Mandible was the most common jaw affected (76.07%). Odontogenic cysts constituted 12.25% of all oral biopsies. Radicular cyst comprised 75.11% of odontogenic cysts followed by dentigerous cyst (17.2%). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed similar as well as contradictory results compared to other studies, probably due to geographical and ethnic variations which is yet to be corroborated.