Odontogenic Tumors in South America - A Multicenter Study of 4399 Cases From 20 Oral Pathology Centers

To describe the occurrence and clinicopathological features of odontogenic tumors (OTs) in a multicenter South American study.

This retrospective study reviewed 207,434 biopsies across 20 oral pathology centers in 10 South American countries. All cases were included according to the 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Data were analyzed descriptively.

A total of 4399 OTs were identified, representing 2.1% of all biopsies assessed in these centers. Most were benign (99.1%), mainly odontoma (38.5%) and ameloblastoma (34%). Malignant tumors were rare (0.9%). Patients had a mean age of 27.8 years, with peak incidence in the second decade, and a slight female predominance (male-to-female ratio 1:1.1). Most lesions were asymptomatic (87.8%), intraosseous (97.3%), and located in the mandible (62.5%), especially the posterior region. Radiographically, radiolucent lesions (49.9%) predominated. Tooth displacement (83.3%) and root resorption (82.8%) were frequently reported. Among cases with available data, surgical excision (41.2%) and enucleation (37.3%) were the most common treatments, and recurrence was observed in 20.1%.

This multicenter study provides the largest dataset on OTs in South America. The results confirm the predominance of benign lesions and highlight the importance of collaborative studies, offering a basis for future clinical and research initiatives.