Ameloblastoma in children. The Zimbabwean experience

A retrospective study of 20 patients aged 18 years and younger with ameloblastoma seen over a 10-year period at Harare Central Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe, was carried out. Males and females were equally affected. The mandible was the most commonly involved bone (95%); the premolar/canine incisor area was commonly affected (69.1%). Incision biopsy was done before wide surgical resection of the involved bone. No currettage or enucleation was used as a mode of treatment. Immediate reconstruction was performed with metallic implants. Twenty percent of the lesions had a unilocular radiologic appearance that resembled a dentigerous cyst. Follow-up was poor.