This is a review of 20 cases of ameloblastomas diagnosed and treated at the Dental Faculty, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. The clinical features, histological features and treatment methods are presented. Two basic clinical types namely the conventional (solid/multicystic) and unicystic ameloblastomas showed different recurrence rates. Discrepancies between the recurrent rates in this study for conventional ameloblastoma and for unicystic ameloblastoma and those of other reports are discussed. A brief discussion on the treatment modalities used is also presented.
Features of the typical ameloblastoma of the mandible are outlined. Three cases managed by conservative surgical treatment maintaining the continuity of the mandible are described. The factors taken into consideration when instituting this method of treatment are discussed. Results obtained are encouraging.
Ameloblastoma is the most known of the epithelial odontogenic benign tumor. It is slow growing and locally aggressive in nature and most commonly seen in the posterior mandible. Various histopathological variants exist, among which acanthomatous type of ameloblastoma is one of the rarest types. Acanthomatous ameloblastoma is usually seen in older aged human population and most commonly reported in canine region of dogs in literature. Here, we report a rare case of acanthomatous ameloblastoma in a young male patient involving mandibular anterior region crossing the midline with recurrence over a period of 2 years of follow-up after surgical resection.
A case of unicystic ameloblastoma which recurred after 15 years showing unusual histological features is reported. The prominent pseudo-glandular features present are described. This case highlights the importance of extensive histological examination for more characteristic features of ameloblastoma to reach a correct diagnosis.
The purpose of this report is to document a case of unsuspected ameloblastoma involving the right man dibular subpontic region in a 38-year-old Cambodian female patient. This lesion was purportedly preceded by multiple radiolucencies which were diagnosed as radicular cysts and treated a few times in the past years by enucleation followed by endodontic therapy of the affected teeth. Bridgework restoration of the partially edentulous area was performed. This case report demonstrates radiographic changes that occurred in the periods before and after the diagnosis of ameloblastoma. The case may represent an example of radicular cysts and ameloblastoma occurring as a collision phenomenon, or the ameloblastoma may have arisen as a result of neoplastic transformation of the lining epithelium in an inflammatory odontogenic epithelial cyst.
Mandibular resection, following surgery for tumor or osteoradionecrosis, leaves a patient with a swallowing, speech, and cosmetic disability. Repair of the oromandibular defect is difficult and various prostheses and grafts have been used and reported. The most popular form of mandibular reconstruction is the use of the free, vascularized bone transfer. We report our experience with the free vascularized fibula bone transfer in eight patients.
To determine the distribution patterns of bone resorption regulators, receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B (RANK), RANK ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in recurrent ameloblastoma (RAs) and to clarify their impact on the biologic behavior of these neoplasms.
Mandibular swellings may occur as a result of many benign lesions of odontogenic or non-odontogenic origin. Ameloblastomas are benign tumours of odontogenic origin, whose importance lies in its potential to grow into enormous size with resulting bone deformity, it is a slow-growing, persistent, and locally aggressive neoplasm. The unicystic ameloblastoma (UA) represents an ameloblastoma variant, presenting as a cyst clinically and radiographically, but showing typical ameloblastomatous epithelium lining histologically. It commonly occurs in second and third decades of life and is rare in children under 12 years of age, and better response to conservative treatment. It shares many clinical and radiographic features with odontogenic cysts/tumours and/or periapical disease of endodontic origin. Reported here is an unusual case of unicystic ameloblastoma involving the crown of an unerupted mandibular first premolar in a 9-year boy in an uncommon location, which was misdiagnosed as periapical lesion of inflammatory origin clinically, and as a dentigerous cyst radiographically. This highlights the importance to routinely submit the removed surgical specimen for histopathological examination.