Biopsied jaw lesions in Kuwait: a six-year retrospective analysis

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the relative frequency of jaw lesions in Kuwait.

Materials and methods: Biopsy records and microscopic sections of all jaw biopsies seen in the Department of Histopathology at Amiri Hospital, Kuwait, during the period January 2004 to December 2009 were reviewed. The biopsies were divided into three major groups: developmental/inflammatory/reactive lesions (group 1), cystic lesions (group 2), and tumors and tumor-like lesions (group 3). Groups 2 and 3 were subdivided into odontogenic and nonodontogenic.

Results: Three hundred and eighty-five cases were reviewed. Of the 385 cases, 115 (29.9%) were in group 1, 178 (46.2%) in group 2, and 92 (23.9%) in group 3. Overall, radicular cysts (n = 95; 24.7%) were the most common biopsied jaw lesions, followed by chronic apical periodontitis (n = 59; 15.3%), dentigerous cysts (n = 51; 13.2%), and keratocystic odontogenic tumors (n = 30; 7.8%). In group 1, chronic apical periodontitis was the most frequent lesion (n = 59; 51.3%). In group 2, odontogenic cysts (n = 166; 93.3%) were more frequent than nonodontogenic cysts (n = 12; 6.7%), and radicular cysts (n = 95; 53.4%) were the most frequent lesions in this group. Odontogenic tumors (n = 61; 66.3%) were more frequent than nonodontogenic tumors (n = 31; 33.7%) in group 3. Keratocystic odontogenic tumors (n = 30; 32.6%) were the most frequent type of lesion in this group, followed by ameloblastoma (n = 17; 18.5%). Only 3 malignant lesions were found in this study.

Conclusions: Cystic and inflammatory lesions of the jaw are more common than tumors and tumor-like lesions of the jaw in Kuwait. The majority of inflammatory lesions that occurred in the jaw were related to periapical inflammation. Most cystic and tumorous jaw lesions were odontogenic in origin. Locally aggressive odontogenic tumors were relatively more common than nonaggressive ones. Malignant jaw tumors were relatively rare.