Abstract Odontomas are the most common tumor-like (hamartoma) odontogenic lesions in the gnathic bones. There are two main types: complex odontoma which is composed mainly of amorphous calcification, and compound odontoma which is characterized by irregular tooth-like structures. Odontomas are generally asymptomatic and in most cases involve only one quadrant of the maxilla or mandible. The treatment of choice is surgical removal. The aim of the present study is to report a rare case of multiple complex odontomas affecting the mandible and to review the literature on the clinical and pathological features of these tumors.

Resumo Odontomas são as lesões odontogênicas mais comuns nos ossos gnaticos mais comuns. Existem dois tipos principais: odontoma complexo que é composto principalmente de calcificação amorfa, e odontoma composto que é caracterizado por estruturas irregulares semelhantes à dentes. Odontomas são geralmente assintomáticos e, na maioria dos casos, envolvem apenas um quadrante da maxila ou mandíbula. O tratamento escolhido é a remoção cirúrgica.

Resumen Los odontomas son las lesiones odontogénicas más comunes en los huesos gnáticos más comunes. Hay dos tipos principales: odontoma complejo, que se compone principalmente de calcificación amorfa, y odontoma compuesto, que se caracteriza por estructuras irregulares similares a dientes. Los odontomas suelen ser asintomáticos y, en la mayoría de los casos, afectan solo un cuadrante del maxilar o la mandíbula. El tratamiento elegido es la extirpación quirúrgica.

ABSTRACT The calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor is a rare benign neoplasm that accounts for approximately 1% of all odontogenic tumors. Most of the cases occur in the posterior mandible, and a few involve the maxilla. Despite their relatively indolent biological behavior, tumors in the maxilla tend to grow fast. We report the case of a 33-year-old female patient exhibiting swelling in the right maxilla. An isodense area associated with an impacted supernumerary tooth was found on imaging examination. The histopathologic diagnosis was a calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor. The treatment of choice was surgical removal of the lesion and associated dental elements. The patient has been followed up for 11 months and shows no signs of recurrence. Besides describing this case, we reviewed the literature on the association of calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumors with supernumerary teeth and found two case reports addressing this subject.

The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of epithelial odontogenic tumors diagnosed histologically in a period of 41 years in a Brazilian population according to age, gender, site affected and compare these data with previously reported studies from other countries. Data of epithelial odontogenic tumors diagnosed were collected from the files of the Oral Pathology Laboratory of Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil, and entered in a standardized form for later comparisons. Clini-cal features obtained from the patient records and microscope slides were reviewed according to the 1992 World Health Organization classification. A total 156 epithelial odontogenic tumor were reported. Of these, all of them were benign. Ameloblastoma was the most frequent type (85.9 %), followed by adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (10.9 %) and calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (3.2 %). The mean age of the patients was 38 years, with a wide range (1180 years). The posterior region of mandible was the anatomic site most frequently affected by this disease, and no significant differences were found between sexes in the diagnosis of odontogenic tumors. A marked geographic variation in the relative incidences of various epithelial odontogenic tumors was found. It was particularly notable in ameloblastomas and adenomatoid odontogenic tumors, with the incidences observed in the present study being similar, sometimes different to earlier studies in others parts of the world.

El objetivo fue determinar la distribución de los tumores odontogénicos epiteliales diagnosticados histológicamente en un período de 41 años en una población brasileña según edad, sexo y la zona afectada y comparar estos datos con estudios anteriores de otros países. Los datos de los tumores odontogénicos epiteliales diagnosticados fueron obtenidos de los archivos del Laboratorio de Patología Oral de la Universidad Federal de Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil, e introducidos en un formulario estandarizado para comparaciones futuras. Las características clínicas obtenidas a partir de los registros de los pacientes y los portaobjetos de microscopio fueron revisados de acuerdo a la clasificación de la Organización Mundial de la Salud 1992. Se informó de un total de 156 tumores epiteliales odontogénicas. De estos, todos eran benignos. Ameloblastoma fue el tipo más frecuente (85,9 %), seguido por el tumor odontogénico adenomatoide (10,9 %) y el tumor odontogénico epitelial calcificante (3,2 %). La edad media de los pacientes fue de 38 años, con un rango amplio (1180 años). La región posterior de la mandíbula era el sitio anatómico más afectado por esta enfermedad, y no se encontraron diferencias significativas entre sexos en el diagnóstico de los tumores odontogénicos. Se encontró una marcada variación geográfica en las incidencias relativas de diversos tumores odontogénicos epiteliales. Fue particularmente notable en ameloblastomas y tumores odontogénicos adenomatoide, con las incidencias observadas en este estudio siendo a veces similares, y a veces diferentes de los estudios anteriores en otras partes del mundo.