Ameloblastoma natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vamsikrishna Gunnam M.B.B.S [2], Simrat Sarai, M.D. [3]

In several cases, the patients with ameloblastoma are asymptomatic. Depending on the extent of the tumor at the time of diagnosis, the prognosis may vary.

• In several cases, the patients with ameloblastoma are asymptomatic.^[1][2][3]
• Ameloblastoma most commonly diagnosed as an accidental finding on orthopantomography.
• The most common symptoms in patients with ameloblastoma are as following:
  • Facial swelling
  • Malocclusion
  • Loosening of teeth
  • ILL-fitting dentures
  • Periodontal diseases
  • Oroantral fistulas and
  • Nasal airway obstruction

• Ameloblastoma is regarded as a true neoplasm of enamel.
• Ameloblastoma described as unicentric, nonfunctional, intermittent in growth.
• Ameloblastoma is the second most common odontogenic neoplasm.
• Ameloblastoma histologically classified as six subtypes:
  • Follicular subtype
  • Plexiform subtype
  • Acanthomatous subtype
  • Granular subtype
  • Desmoplastic subtype and
  • Basilar subtype.

• Ameloblastoma most commonly affects mandible more than maxilla.
• Ameloblastomal progress as a slow growing, painless expansion of jaw

• Complications of ameloblastoma include the following:^[4][5]
  • Breathing difficulty
  • Pain and facial deformity
  • Secondary infection of the tumor
• The recurrence rate of these tumors is 25-30%.

• The prognosis of ameloblastoma was determined mainly by the method of surgical treatment, which means that patients receiving a radical treatment had a better prognosis than those who received a radical one. ^[6][7]

• In more than 50% patients receiving the conservative treatment had good prognosis without any recurrence.
• Ameloblastoma which has a well-defined edge with sclerosis is thought to grow slowly, and the normal bone has a strong reaction to form the sclerosis edge, and the prognosis is good.
• Ameloblastomawith the ill-defined radiographic boundary, the tumor has the highest proliferative ability and poorest prognosis.
• Radical surgery should be used for the multicystic ameloblastoma to prevent the recurrence.
• The follicular ameloblastoma were thought to have a higher recurrence rate than unicystic or plexiform.^[8]

Template:WH Template:WS