Odontogenic tumors (
OTs) constitute a heterogeneous group of lesions with diverse histopathological features and clinical manifestations. The present study is to determine the frequency of
odontogenic tumors (
OTs) in Sri Lankan population. A total of 1677 cases of
OTs were retrieved and analyzed for age, gender and primary site of the
tumors. Cases were re-classified according to the 2005 WHO classification of
OTs. The relative frequency of different types of
tumors was also analyzed and compared with the literature.
OTs represent 3.75% of all cases received during a period of 30 years. Ninety-eight percent of these
tumors were benign and the rest malignant. Mandible to maxilla ratio is 2.8:1. The posterior part, the molar region, is the most frequently affected site for the mandible whilst it is the anterior region for the maxilla. The age ranges from 1 to 80 years, with a mean age of 30.6 years.
Ameloblastoma of solid/multicystic and unicystic types showed a high preponderance for the mandible (>90%) with a ratio of 12.9:1 and 10.8:1, respectively. Out of 1677 cases, 48.7% were
ameloblastoma, and other
tumors, such as keratocystic
odontogenic tumor (KCOT) and
odontoma, were 25.7% and 10.1%, respectively. There is a significant change in the frequency of
OTs after the inclusion of odontogenic
keratocyst as a
tumor. Although
odontoma is said to be the commonest in western countries, our results showed
ameloblastoma as the commonest followed by KCOT, and the relative frequencies of different
tumors have changed significantly as a result of inclusion of KCOT in the new classification.