Squamous odontogenic tumour: report of five cases from Nigeria and review of literature

Abstract

Objectives: To report and describe 5 cases of squamous odontogenic tumour(S.O.T) that accumulated in the file of the biopsy services of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos during a period of 21years, review the literature and to comment on the nature of this rare tumour. Methods: Haematoxylin and eosin stained sections of each of the tumours histologically diagnosed as S.O.T were reviewed with the objective of reconfirming the diagnosis in the biopsy report file. Results: 5 cases of S.O.T. were diagnosed during this period. The mean age of occurrence (+SD) was 36.6 years + 10 (range 20 to 45 years). All the five (100%) cases presented in females, 4(80%) occurred in the mandible and 1 (20%) occurred in the maxilla. All the 4 mandibular lesions occurred in the body of the mandible while the single maxillary lesion occurred in the posterior region. Discussion: All the 5 cases in the present series presented in females, though review of the literature showed that this tumour do occur in males also but with a female predominance. The mandibular prevalence (4 out of 5) in this series contrasts with reports in the literature. This variation may be due the limited number cases studied, but are however important additions to the few reported cases. Conclusion: Care should be taken not to misdiagnose this condition as acanthomatous ameloblastoma or well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Although, it has an infiltrative pattern of growth, S.O.T. has become accepted as a distinct lesion rather than a variant of ameloblastoma. Treatment should be by conservative excision

Keywords: Squamous odontogenic tumour, report, Nigeria.