Clinical and histopathological investigation of odontomas: review of the literature and presentation of 160 cases

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and histopathologic aspects of different types of odontomas.

Materials and methods: One hundred sixty odontoma cases sent to the Institute of Oncology, Department of Tumor Pathology, Istanbul University from 1971 through 2010 were investigated. These tumors were compared by age of patient, gender of patient, localization, histopathologic type, clinical diagnosis, and clinical and microscopic features.

Results: Odontomas were classified histopathologically as complex, compound, or mixed. Of all investigated cases, 99 were complex, 57 were compound, and 4 were mixed odontomas. The mean age at diagnosis was 27.9 years, and odontomas were diagnosed most frequently at 10 to 19 years of age.

Conclusions: From the perspective of community health, the presence of odontomas within the jaws is important because these constitute 21% to 67% of all odontogenic tumors. The present study showed 2 interesting findings that differed from previous studies. These are the lower incidence rate of odontomas within the category of odontogenic tumors and the higher incidence of complex odontomas over compound odontomas.