Cistos e tumores odontogênicos em pacientes idosos: estudo retrospectivo de 45 anos do laboratório de patologia bucal da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia

Abstract

The Brazilian demographic transition, characterized by population aging, leads to complex demands for the Unified Health System (SUS), making the planning of highly efficient public policies essential 24. This scenario is particularly critical in the dental field, given the frequently poor oral health status observed in this age group 25. This retrospective and cross-sectional study, conducted at the Oral Pathology Laboratory of the Federal University of Uberlândia, involved the analysis of 21,367 biopsy reports collected between March 1978 and September 2023. Its central objective was to characterize the epidemiological profile of odontogenic cystic and tumor lesions in geriatric patients (age ≥ 60 years), aligning with the principles of the National Policy for the Elderly 2. The methodology involved a survey of 2,879 biopsies from this age group, of which 243 diagnoses (8%) were classified as odontogenic cysts (OCs) or odontogenic tumors (OTs) according to the diagnostic criteria established by the World Health Organization (OMS). A descriptive statistical analysis of variables such as gender, age, and anatomical location was performed.The results revealed a clear predominance of OCs (88.9%) over OTs (11.1%), with the majority of cases concentrated in the 60 to 79 age group (92.59%) and among males (62.55%). The Radicular Cyst was the most frequent specific diagnosis among OCs (85,5%), whereas Ameloblastoma was the most common tumor (87%), with both lesions showing the mandible as the site of highest prevalence. In conclusion, the research successfully achieved its proposed objective by detailing the profile of odontogenic maxillofacial morbidity in the elderly. These findings provide important data for clinical surveillance and early diagnostic strategies, which are critical for therapeutic planning and for improving oral health and pathology services.