Ameloblastoma of the jaws: a survey of 109 Nigerian patients.

A survey of 109 cases of ameloblastoma of the jaws in black Africans from Nigeria is presented. The neoplasms were removed by radical resection or by en bloc excision with preservations of the inferior border of the mandible. In selected cases, reconstruction was done using autogenous bone grafts or a Bowerman-Conroy prosthesis. Where the mandibular symphysis was not resected, adequate functional and esthetic results were achieved without reconstruction. All the bone grafts were successful, but most of the Bowerman-Conroy prostheses were rejected because of either infection or mechanical failure. Eight-year follow-up data were recorded; 35 patients were lost to follow-up, and of the 74 who were followed up, 31 (41.9%) were free of the disease for five years or more. Although complete excision was achieved in all the cases, there were three recurrences subsequent to segmental resections.