Odontogenic tumors: a study of 1309 cases in a Chinese population

To determine the relative frequency of odontogenic tumors (OTs) in a Chinese population, files from the department of oral pathology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, were systematically reviewed for all OTs during the period 1985-2006. Diagnosis of each case was confirmed according to the WHO histological classification for OTs published in 2005. The relevant clinicopathological data of these OTs were analyzed and compared with those of previous series. The present series represents approximately 3.92% of all pathologic specimens accessioned in our department over the same period of time. Of the 1309 OTs, 94.04% were benign and 5.06% were malignant. The most frequent benign tumor was keratocystic odontogenic tumor (38.73%), followed by ameloblastoma (36.52%) and odontomas (6.11%). The prevalence of the remaining tumors appears to be rare. In conclusion, odontogenic tumors are in general uncommon lesions in this Chinese population. The present study identifies some similarities between our data and the previous studies from Africa and Asia and some differences in comparison to the reports from American and European countries.