Clinical and imaging evaluation and therapeutic approach of 42 cases of odontogenic myxomas

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the clinical and imaging characteristics and therapeutic approach of odontogenic myxomas (OMs).

Study design: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted using data from medical records of patients treated at three hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil, between 1996 and 2021. Demographic, clinical, imaging (panoramic radiography and/or computed tomography, CT), and histopathological data were collected.

Results: Forty-two cases were evaluated. The mean age of patients was 27.43 years (±10.39), and 64.3% were female. Most lesions were asymptomatic (83.3%) and located in the posterior mandible (40.5%). Multilocular radiolucency was the predominant pattern on panoramic radiographs (61.9%), whereas unilocular appearance prevailed on CT scans (45.2%). Ill-defined margins were observed in 52.4% of cases. Conservative treatment (excision with peripheral ostectomy) was employed in 95.2% of patients. The recurrence rate was 7.1%, with no statistically significant correlation between lesion characteristics and recurrence.

Conclusions: OMs primarily affects young female patients and show variable radiographic patterns. Conservative surgical treatment appears effective, with low recurrence rates.