Abstract
Background Odontogenic tumors are relatively common oro-facial tumors seen in our environment with challenges encountered with management in terms of inadequate infrastructure and high cost of treatment. They are often associated with bone resorption with concomitant collagen degradation and excretion of their by-products in serum or urine. The aim of this present study was to evaluate urinary hydroxyproline level in patients with benign mandibular odontogenic tumors.
Materials and methods Twenty-two consecutive patients with histologically diagnosed mandibular odontogenic tumors were recruited. Twenty-two controls who matched the study group for sex and age were also recruited. The study group had CT-Scan of their lesions done. All participants were required to fast 12 hours overnight and their early morning second void urine collected between 7 a.m and 8 a.m. The collected urine samples were stored frozen at -20 degrees C until analysis. Colorimetric method of analysis of urinary hydroxyproline and creatinine were done using Biovision hydroxyproline kit and Randox creatinine kit, respectively. The results were recorded as urinary hydroxyproline alone (mu g/mu l) and as urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio.
Results The mean age of the participants was 28.45 +/- 6.8 years. The mean duration of the tumors in the study group was 5.9 +/- 4.4 years. A mean urinary hydroxyproline/ creatinine ratio of 0.081 +/- 0.129 was noted in the study group as compared to 0.016 +/- 0.006 that was noted among healthy Nigerian who served as controls in the study.
Conclusion There was a significant increase in urinary hydroxyproline level in patients with odontogenic tumors when compared with healthy Nigerians.