A Prospective Study on Odontogenic Tumors Among Patients Attending Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Introduction: Odontogenic tumors which may be benign or malignant, constitute a group of heterogeneous lesions that are derived from the tooth-producing tissues or their remnants that are entrapped either within the jawbones or into the adjacent soft tissues. Aim of the study was to determine the pattern of occurrence and clinicopathological presentation of odontogenic tumors among patients attending the oral and maxillofacial unit at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania using 2005 WHO classification. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional hospital-based study that included patients with oral and maxillofacial tumors. Patients’ information was gathered using a structured questionnaire. Clinical and histological examination was done, and the findings were recorded in a specially designed form. Data was processed and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19. Results: A total of 102 patients with histological diagnosis of odontogenic tumors comprising 52 (51%) males and 50 (49%) females, were included in this study. The mean age of the patients was 34.07 ± 14.8 SD years and the most affected age group was 20-29 years. Majority 76 (74.5%) of the patients had odontogenic tumors comprised of odontogenic epithelium with mature fibrous stroma without odontogenic ectomesenchyme. Ameloblastoma was the most (65.7%) common odontogenic tumor followed by odontogenic myxoma/myxofibroma (5.9%) and Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumor (5.9%). Conclusion: Generally, the sociodemographic distribution and frequency of occurrence, of odontogenic tumors seen in this study is similar to that reported in other African and Asian studies but differed with American and European studies. Ameloblastoma was the most common odontogenic tumor with a high propensity for the mandible compared to the maxilla.