Ameloblastoma in Hong Kong Chinese

CSP Poon, PC Wu, MKP So
Department of Clinical Pathology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 3 Lok Man Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong

A total of 50 ameloblastomas in Hong Kong Chinese were received from January 1980 through December 1992 by the Oral Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Hong Kong. There were eight cases (16 %) of unicystic and 42 cases (84 %) of classical ameloblastoma. The mean age of the former group (22.1 years) was one decade younger than that of the latter (32.1 years). Otherwise, the slight male predominance, mostly mandibular location, size variation, and histological patterns were similar to those found in other series of ameloblastoma. In the unicystic group, fibrous cyst wall invasion by epithelial strands was observed in all cases. The implications of these findings in diagnosis and management are discussed.

Hong Kong Med J 1996;2:172-6

Key words: Chinese; Ameloblastoma; Mandible; Odontogenic tumors