Developing complex odontoma in a 4-year-old child with active ameloblastic follicles: A case report

Area of Science:

• Oral pathology
• Odontogenic tumors
• Pediatric dentistry

Background:

• Odontomas are common benign mixed odontogenic tumors characterized by dental hard tissue formation.
• Complex odontomas, featuring haphazard hard tissue masses, are rare in primary dentition, with few reported cases.
• Distinguishing complex odontoma from other lesions can be challenging due to overlapping features.

Observation:

• This case presents the 11th instance of complex odontoma in primary dentition and the youngest in the Indian population.
• The lesion exhibited an unusual active epithelial component, including tooth buds and ameloblastic follicles, alongside hard tissues.
• Diagnostic differentiation was complicated by similarities to ameloblastic fibroma and ameloblastoma.

Findings:

• The study documents an exceptionally rare case of complex odontoma in a very young child with primary dentition.
• Histopathological analysis revealed unique features, including an active epithelial component, complicating diagnosis.
• This represents the youngest reported case of complex odontoma in primary dentition within the Indian subcontinent.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of considering complex odontoma in the differential diagnosis of pediatric jaw lesions, even in very young children.
• Emphasizes the need for careful histopathological evaluation to accurately diagnose rare odontogenic tumors.
• Contributes to the limited literature on complex odontoma in primary dentition, particularly in diverse ethnic populations.