Complex and compound odontomas are clinico‐pathological entities

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and aims: The odontoma is the most common benign tumor of odontogenic origin, characterized by mixed histological features and diverse clinical presentation. The purpose of this study was to review clinicopathologic features of odontomas arising from oral and maxillofacial area in Korean patients. Methods: Sixty cases of odontoma were analyzed for their prevalence, clinical and pathological findings. Results: Clinical symptoms showed delayed eruption ( n = 9) of either the deciduous or permanent tooth, intra‐ or extra‐oral swelling ( n = 27), pain ( n = 6), but 18 cases had no subjective symptoms. Seventy percent of the odontomas were associated with unerupted teeth. The location of the tumor was maxilla in 55% and mandible in 45% of cases. There were 55% in the anterosuperier sector and 25% in the posteroinferior zone, while the rest in the upper molar region. Compound odontoma was more common (60%) than complex odontoma. Compound odontoma showed a mean age of 18.5 years, in the incisor/canine area of the maxilla, and smaller tumors (5–30 mm) with unilocular and multiple radio‐opaque miniteeth surrounded by defined radiolucency. The complex odontoma showed a mean age of 30.1 years, in the first and second molar of the mandible, and larger tumors (10–60 mm) with unilocular undistinguished radio‐opaque mass surrounded by radiolucent zone and a distinct radio‐opaque border. Conclusions: The clinicopathologic pattern of odontomas can be divided into compound and complex odontomas, while the definitive diagnosis of odontomas was based on the pathological examination after surgical removal of the tumor.