Time patterns of recurrence and correlating histomorphology to delay of recurrence of benign jaw tumours: A 10-year appreciation

Patients presenting a recurrent benign jaw tumour have many complications, among which increased morbidities and mortalities, malignant degeneration of these benign tumours, aesthetic as well as functional sequalae and high medical bills. Hence, we sought out through a retrospective study to evaluate the patterns of these recurrences to help us appreciate and help predict recurrences to improve the overall wellbeing of these patients. We carried out a retrospective study during the period of January 2010 to April 2020 at 3 medical centers in Yaoundé. We obtained the necessary ethical approval and administrative authorizations. All study participants having a histological diagnosis of a benign jaw tumour and presenting with at least one tumour recurrence were included in our study. The histological diagnoses were reconfirmed and we excluded all participants with pathology slides that could not be retrieved or those that could not undergo histological analysis. We retrieved 19 cases of benign tumour recurrences in this 10-year period and finally retained 14 cases of benign tumour recurrences in our study with a total of 7 different histological diagnoses. Also, all our cases of recurrences were found between the second and fifth decade with ameloblastoma having the most cases of recurrences in our study. The mean duration of recurrence for participants with one recurrence only was 6.31years ± 6.08, while those with ≥2 recurrences was 3.50years ± 2.95. Looking at the histomorphology, the mean duration of first recurrence of ameloblastoma in our study was 5 years, relatively shorter than the combined mean duration of first recurrence for all tumours recurrences which was 5.55years ± 5.49. The mean duration of first, second and third recurrences were 5.55years ± 5.49, 2.17years ± 1.47 and 2.80years ± 2.88 respectively. These durations and patterns could help as surgical post operative follow up period after jaw tumour recurrences.