Giant odontoma: A systematic scoping review and case report

The most common type of odontogenic tumor is odontoma. Cases with at least one dimension (sagittal, axial, or coronal) ≥30 mm were categorized as giant odontomas. This study aimed to provide a scoping review of giant odontoma and present a case report.

A 6 years-old boy attended for a routine dental examination without any symptoms. A slight swelling of the right buccal cortex of the posterior maxilla was detected. Radiography views revealed a mixed radiolucent-radiopaque lesion with multiple tooth-like structures. The lesion caused displacement teeth and elevated the floor of the maxillary sinus. The tumor was thoroughly enucleated and the dimensions of the tumor were measured as 32.4 mm × 22.2 mm × 15.3 mm. The specimen was histopathologically examined and was diagnosed as a giant compound odontoma.

This scoping review indicated that the mean age of patients diagnosed with giant odontomas was 18.73 years, with no difference between the sexes. The posterior jaws were the most prevalent regions of incidence. The most common clinical manifestations are swelling, pain, and a sensation of hardness on palpation. Giant odontomas are usually diagnosed with panoramic radiography, cone-beam computed tomography, and histopathological examinations. Surgical enucleation is the treatment approach for this tumor.

The distinction between giant odontoma and non-giant odontoma is solely based on tumor size. Although giant odontomas are benign, their large size necessitates specific precautions for diagnosis and management. Proper treatment involves critical decisions concerning surgical settings, bone grafting techniques, and jaw stabilization methods.