RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW OF AMELOBLASTIC FIBROMA IN TWO NIGERIAN TERTIARY HEALTH CENTRES

Ameloblastic fibroma in Nigerians

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Ameloblastic fibroma (AF) is an uncommon benign 
mixed odontogenic tumour with a relative frequency of between 
1.5% and 4.5%. The epithelial component of AF resembles 
ameloblastoma, while the stromal component appears as an 
immature cell-rich myxoid tissue with an embryonic appearance. 
The aim of this study was to analyze AF cases seen in two Tertiary 
Dental Centres in Nigeria. 
METHODS: The Oral Pathology records of University College 
Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching 
Hospital (OAUTH), Ile Ife were searched for lesions diagnosed as 
AF between the period of 1999-2015 for UCH and 2003 to 2013 for 
OAUTH. Demograhic data including age, gender and site were 
analyzed. 
RESULTS: Fifteen cases of AF representing 3.1% of all odontogenic 
tumours were reported. There were 8 (53.3%) males and 7 (46.7 %) 
females giving a 1.2:1 male: female ratio. The age range was 12-63 
years, with a mean age of 28.3 (±16.8) years. The peak age incidence 
was in the second and third decades of life, both accounting for 10 
(66.7%) cases. There was a mandibular predilection, with 14 (93.3%) 
cases occurring in the mandible while only 1 (6.7%) case was found 
in the maxilla. 

CONCLUSION: This study showed that AF is a relative rare lesion 
and the demographics were essentially similar to previous reports. 
However, the mean age in this study was higher than those reported 
by most studies. A larger multicentre study will be appropriate to 
further investigate the differences obtained in this study and previous 
studies.