This study describes the clinical and pathologic features of ameloblastomas seen in the 2 main craniofacial treatment centers in Kenya in the 10-year period between January 1995 and December 2005. A total of 184 patient records were analyzed for this study. Eighty-two (44.6%) of the patients were male, and 102 (55.4%) were female with an overall age range of 10 to 80 years (mean, 30.2 years; SD, 14.1 years). There was no significant difference in gender presentation of ameloblastomas, although females presented at a slightly older age. The mean age for males was 29.9 years, and for females, it was 30.5 years. Patients generally tended to seek medical advice late, with the mean duration at first presentation of 46.3 months for males and 44.4 months for females. Most of the ameloblastomas (n = 172; 93.5%) were located in the mandible, 11 (6.0%) were in the maxilla, and 1 (0.5%) was in the soft tissues. Presenting symptoms included swelling (n = 182; 98.9%), pain (n = 64; 36.0%), mobile teeth/history of extraction (n = 104; 57.5%), purulent discharge (n = 39; 21.7%) and paresthesia (n = 10; 5.6%). The posterior mandible was the most commonly affected site, whereas maxillary ameloblastomas tended to occur in anterior sites. One hundred fifty-three ameloblastomas (83.2%) were of the solid/multicystic subtype; 8 (5.3%) were unicystic; 1 (0.5%) was of extraosseous origin; 1 (0.5%) was desmoplastic; 9 (6.0%) were malignant, and 12 of the records had no histopathologic pattern specified.

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The tendency of oral squamous cell carcinoma to occur in younger age groups may be an indication of carcinogenic factors that could be peculiar to this population. There is an urgent need for the expansion of reporting systems for oral diseases as an integral part of development of appropriate strategies in the improvement of general health in Kenya.

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