Elsevier

American Journal of Otolaryngology

Volume 24, Issue 1, January–February 2003, Pages 64-69
American Journal of Otolaryngology

Case Reports
Ameloblastic carcinoma: Report of an aggressive case with multiple bony metastases*

https://doi.org/10.1053/ajot.2003.15Get rights and content

Abstract

Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare primary tumor of the maxillofacial skeleton with a distinct predilection for the mandible. These lesions may initially show histologic features of ameloblastoma that dedifferentiate over time. Other ameloblastic carcinomas initially present with morphologic features suggestive of ameloblastoma with areas of epithelial dedifferentiation. We herein report a rare case of aggressive ameloblastic carcinoma in a 22-year-old white man who developed widespread bony metastases and expired 4 years after initial diagnosis. (Am J Otolaryngol 2003;24:64-69. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.)

Section snippets

Case report

A 22-year-old white man presented to his dental practitioner in June 1993 with discomfort in the area of his right mandibular second and third molar teeth. After removal of the teeth, an abnormal tissue was detected in the extraction socket. He was then referred to Roswell Park Cancer Institute for further management. Physical examination revealed a healing mandibular extraction socket. There was a diffuse, nontender swelling of the buccal sulcus of the mandible adjacent to the second and third

Discussion

The typical intraosseous ameloblastoma is a low-grade malignancy, which has the tendency to infiltrate cancellous bone without causing bone resorption. Although the clinical course is characterized by local recurrences, rarely do these tumors metastasize and are generally considered benign. Of a total of 126 patients treated at the Mayo Clinic, only 15 died as a result of the tumor.8 Death from ameloblastoma is usually seen in cases with uncontrolled local growth and involvement of vital

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    *

    Address correspondence to: Wesley L. Hicks Jr, MD, Department of Head and Neck, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263. E-mail: wesley.hicks@roswell park.org.

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