Clinicopathological and cell proliferation evaluation of ameloblastomas and keratocystic odontogenic tumors: a 10 year retrospective study

Odontogenic tumors (OTs) are important lesions of the gnathic bones due to their clinicopathological heterogeneity and variable biological behavior; therefore, epidemiological studies are needed to outline the incidence and behavior of these tumors. To evaluate the incidence and epidemiological profile of ameloblastoma (AMB) and keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) from an oral pathology service, and correlate morphological findings of these tumors with the immunoexpression of a cellular proliferation marker (Ki-67), a retrospective study (2002–2012) was conducted to characterize demographic, clinical, radiological, and morphological data of AMBs and KCOTs. Then, a representative sample composed of 49 cases of each tumor was selected to perform immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of Ki-67 through the streptavidin biotin peroxidase technique. For statistical analysis, we used Fisher’s exact test (p < 0.05). A total of 279 OTs were found in the service, in which 91 (32.6%) were AMB and 98 (35 %) were KCOT. Most cases occurred in white women, and the average age of patients with AMB and KCOT was 32 and 33 years, respectively. The maxilla–mandible ratio was 1:6 and 1:3.6 for AMB and KCOT, respectively. Regarding IHC analysis, AMB and KCOT had similar levels of cellular proliferation. However, KCOTs with intense inflammation showed higher Ki-67 expression (p < 0.001). Recurrent cases had similar Ki-67 immunoexpression. The demographic profile of the studied tumors corroborates with data reported in the literature, and the levels of cellular proliferation were similar in both tumors, although the inflammation seems to induce a differential proliferative behavior in KCOT.