title: Odontogenic tumours in children and adolescents: a study of 78 Nigerian cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is paucity of literature on odontogenic tumours in children and adolescents. Available records are difficult to compare due to differences in study criteria. To contribute to the records, a 20-year study of odontogenic tumours on the basis of the WHO classification (Kramer et al., 1992) in Nigerian African children and adolescents < or =18 years of age was undertaken.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective survey of oral/jaw tumours and allied lesions in children and adolescents < or =18 years of age seen at the Maxillofacial Unit, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria between 1979 and 1998. Data collected were histopathologic type, age, clinical features, radiologic appearance, treatment and record of recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Odontogenic tumours selected using the WHO classification were used for further study. Data were collected from case notes, radiographs, histopathologic reports and follow-up records. Information retrieved was used to complete a questionnaire and subjected to analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and fifty-two (252) subjects < or =18 years were recorded, from which 78 (31%) had odontogenic tumours. Among seven types of odontogenic tumours seen, ameloblastoma (54%), odontogenic myxoma (19%) and adenomatoid odontogenic tumour (9%) were predominant. All patients seen were from 6 to 18 years with more than half (53%) between 15 and 18 years of age. A patient with multiple, bilateral odontomas of the maxilla and mandible resembling Herrmann's syndrome was recorded. Seventy-three patients were treated using enucleation (37%), dentoalveolar resection with preservation of lower border (15%) and segmental resection (48%). Five patients absconded after tumour diagnosis. No tumour recurrence was recorded in 65 treated cases followed-up for between 2 months and 10 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report shows that while ameloblastoma was the predominant odontogenic tumour, its frequency in Nigerian African children was lower than in the adult population. A case resembling Herrmann's syndrome is also presented.
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial Unit, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ezekiel Taiwo
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Adebayo
authors.forename: Sunday Olusegun
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ajike
authors.forename: Emmanuel Oladepo
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Adekeye
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012744:Sex Ratio