Odontoma — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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EasyOral PathologyOdontomaORE Part 1

A dental radiograph of a 10-year-old child shows a large well-defined radiolucency in the body of the mandible. It is multilocular and contains several tooth-like structures (denticles). What is the most likely diagnosis?

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Correct answer: C — Compound or complex odontoma

The answer is C: Compound or complex odontoma. The key diagnostic feature is the presence of multiple tooth-like structures (denticles) within a well-defined radiolucency. In compound odontomas, dental tissues are organized into numerous small denticles separated by fibrous septa, which matches the radiographic description perfectly. Odontomas typically present in the first two decades of life, often incidentally on routine radiographs, as in this 10-year-old patient. Option E (ameloblastoma) can present as a multilocular radiolucency but lacks tooth-like structures. Option A (keratocyst) is radiolucent without radiopaque dental components. Option D (dentigerous cyst) surrounds an impacted tooth's crown rather than containing multiple organized denticles throughout. Option B (adenomatoid odontogenic tumour) typically occurs in the anterior maxilla in young females and does not feature numerous denticles.

Reference: Pacifici A, Carbone D, Marini R, Pacifici L. Surgical Management of Compound Odontoma Associated with Unerupted Tooth. International Journal of Dentistry. 2015. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4496474/