RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: Ameloblastoma is the most common odontogenic tumor (OT) accounting for about 1- 3 % of all tumors and tumor-like lesions of the head and neck region. Contrasting reports from documented studies have observed that the relative frequency of ameloblastomas is higher in the black population as compared to Caucasians. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of Sub-Sahara African prevalence of Ameloblastoma. METHODS: The MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and AJOL databases were searched for relevant studies published from 1980 till date. Papers selected for full-text review were included in the systematic review if they provided a hospital or population-based prevalence of Ameloblastoma. Manual searching of selected articles' reference list was also performed to include additional studies. Two individuals independently performed abstract and full-text reviews, data extraction, and quality assessment of the papers. Random-effects models and/or meta-regression were used to generate pooled estimates by country, sex, and year of data collection. RESULTS: Of 264 abstracts screened, 166 articles were selected for full-text review. A total of 22 studies met the inclusion criteria and all articles were hospital-based. The pooled prevalence for Ameloblastoma was 12 % (CI 95 %: 9 % - 15 %). Increasing participant age was not associated with a higher Ameloblastoma prevalence. Prevalence was higher in Nigeria (13 %, CI 95 %: 10 % - 17 %) than in other sub-Saharan countries (9 %, CI 95 %: 6 % - 14 %). Sex, country, and year of data collection were not associated with statistically significant different estimates of prevalence. CONCLUSION: Significant gaps in data collection and overall knowledge about its epidemiology were identified, particularly about the population-based incidence of Ameloblastoma in sub-Saharan countries. Accurate estimates of the prevalence and incidence of Ameloblastoma are needed to plan for the health and social services that will be required to deal with this enigmatic lesion.