The cell proliferation was related to the greater aggressiveness of AC. High expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in all lesions highlighted the importance of these enzymes in the biology of ameloblastic tumors.

Objective: Ameloblastoma is a benign odontogenic tumor (OT) originating from the proliferation of odontogenic epithelium without involvement of the mesenchymal tissue. The aims of the present study were to perform a retrospective analysis of ameloblastoma, compare the findings with those described in previous studies and outline the epidemiological profile of this type of tumor in southern Brazilian population.Methods: Cases of ameloblastoma were retrieved between 1954 and 2009 from a single center and analyzed for age, gender, ethnic, primary site and histological type. Cases were classified according to the 2005 WHO classification of OTs.Results: Descriptive statistical analysis of the data was performed, with the determination of the frequency of the categorical variables. Eighty-nine cases of ameloblastoma were found: 78 cases of solid tumor (88.6%), two cases of desmoplastic tumor (2.2%) and nine cases of the unicystic tumor (10.2%). There was a predominance of the female gender (58.4%) and Caucasian ethnicity (62.9%). Most ameloblastomas were located in the mandible (78.6%) and 40.2% occurred prior to the third decade of life.Conclusion: The present findings are in agreement with those reported in previous studies carried out in other states of Brazil and support that notion that there may be a geographical influence on the profile of patients affected by ameloblastoma.

Objective: Ameloblastoma is a benign odontogenic tumor (OT) originating from the proliferation of odontogenic epithelium without involvement of the mesenchymal tissue. The aims of the present study were to perform a retrospective analysis of ameloblastoma, compare the findings with those described in previous studies and outline the epidemiological profile of this type of tumor in southern Brazilian population. Results: Descriptive statistical analysis of the data was performed, with the determination of the frequency of the categorical variables. Eighty-nine cases of ameloblastoma were found: 78 cases of solid tumor (88.6%), two cases of desmoplastic tumor (2.2%) and nine cases of the unicystic tumor (10.2%). There was a predominance of the female gender (58.4%) and Caucasian ethnicity (62.9%). Most ameloblastomas were located in the mandible (78.6%) and 40.2% occurred prior to the third decade of life. Conclusion: The present findings are in agreement with those reported in previous studies carried out in other states of Brazil and support that notion that there may be a geographical influence on the profile of patients affected by ameloblastoma. Resultados: Foi realizada análise estatística descritiva dos dados com a determinação da freqüência das variáveis categóricas. Oitenta e nove casos de ameloblastomas foram diagnosticados: 78 casos corresponderam ao tipo sólido (88.6%), dois casos ao tipo desmoplásico (2.2%) e nove casos ao tipo unicístico (10.2%). Houve predomínio pelo gênero feminine (58.4%) e de etnia branca (62.9%). A maioria localizou-se na mandíbula (78.6%) e 40.2% ocorreram preferencialmente na terceira década de vida. Conclusão: Nossos achados estão de acordo com os achados realizados em outros estados do Brasil. Isto mostra que pode ocorrer uma influência geográfica sobre o perfil dos pacientes acometidos por ameloblastoma.