Abstract

Background: Odontogenic lesions are tumours and cysts originating from the odontogenic epithelium and or ectomesenchyme and its vestigies. They are a wide array of cystic and neoplastic lesions which have been seen in all age groups. There is robust knowledge on the epidemiology of odontogenic tumours in all age groups, however paediatric odontogenic tumours due to their relative rarity have not been well researched and this has led to a conspicuous paucity of literature and knowledge gap on the specific demographics of these lesions in the paediatric age group. Objectives: To assess the prevalence, age, gender and site distribution of odontogenic tumours and cysts seen at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital within the paediatric group between January 2013 and December 2017. Materials and methods: Records from the archives of the Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry over a period of 5 years (January 2013 to December 2017) were reviewed. Information relating to the type of paediatric odontogenic lesion, age, gender and site of lesion was extracted and recorded on data forms. Lesions were grouped into primary dentition (0 to 5 years), mixed dentition (6 to 12 years) and permanent (13 to 17 years) dentition periods. Data was analyzed using SPSS (version 20). Result: Paediatric odontogenic lesions comprised 40 cases (29.63%) of the total odontogenic lesions, 30.53% of all paediatric lesions and 6.64% of all paediatric orofacial lesions seen within the 5 year study period (January 2013 to December 2018). Odontogenic cysts accounted for 10 cases (25%), while odontogenic tumours accounted for 30 cases (75%) of all the childhood odontogenic lesions. All tumors encountered were benign. Solid ameloblastoma was the most frequently encountered lesion accounting for 11 cases (27.5%) followed by unicystic ameloblatoma with 9 cases (22.5%). Dentigerous cyst was the commonest cyst observed accounting for 6 cases (15%). 95% of lesions were observed within the mixed and permanent dentition periods, majority (86.7%) of tumours occurred in the permanent dentition period. A male predilection was observed at a ratio 1.4:1. Mandible was the commonest site, accounting for 22 cases (55%), with the maxilla accounting for 17 cases (42.5%). Conclusion: Odontogenic lesions are not just rare in the paediatric age group but extremely rare in the deciduous dentition period. Contrary to previous reports, benign odontogenic tumours are more frequently seen than the cysts in this study. Odontogenic tumours occurred more in the permanent dentition period while odontogenic cysts were observed in the mixed dentition stage. The mandible was the preferred site and lesions were observed more in the male gender.