Ameloblastoma is a rare, benign, purely epithelial odontogenic tumour, characterized by a high potential for local invasion and recurrence.

To study the epidemiological and histological characteristics of ameloblastoma. To study Ki67 and CD10 immunostaining in ameloblastoma and to investigate a possible correlation between these two markers and recurrence of this tumour.

An immunohistochemical study using Ki67 and CD10 monoclonal antibodies was performed on 37 paraffin blocks obtained from the Charles-Nicolle hospital pathology department in Tunis over a 9-year period (2004–2012). Statistical analysis was performed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 15.1.

This series of 37 cases comprised 21 males and 16 females (sex ratio: 1.3) with a mean age of 39 years (range: 7 to 70 years), corresponding to 36 cases of intraosseous ameloblastoma and one case of gingival ameloblastoma. Thirty-two cases were polycystic and 5 cases were unicystic. Eighteen cases of local recurrence were observed. No correlation was demonstrated between recurrence and the various clinical and histological parameters and treatment modalities. However, a significant correlation was demonstrated between recurrence and Ki67 and CD10 expression (P=0.000 and 0.002, respectively).

The Ki67 proliferation index and stromal CD10 expression can be considered to be predictive factors of ameloblastoma recurrence.