Unicystic Ameloblastoma of Mandible: A Case Report

Abstract

Ameloblastomas of jaws are benign odontogenic tumors of epithelial origin with four clinical variants: solid multicystic type, unicystic type, desmoplastic type, and extraosseous type. The incidence rate of ameloblastoma is 0.92 per million person-years. Unicystic ameloblastoma refers to those cystic lesions that show clinical and radiologic characteristics of an odontogenic cyst but shows a typical ameloblastomatous epithelium lining part of the cyst cavity, with or without luminal and/or mural tumor proliferation on histological examination. Here is a unique case of unicystic ameloblastoma involving the mandible in a 70-year-old patient. The case was managed by segmental mandibulectomy and flap repair. Unicystic ameloblastoma accounts for only 13% of all known cases in scientific literature. Considering the rarity of the lesion, the purpose of presenting this report on a clinical case is to emphasize the importance of radiological evaluation and histopathological examination for the diagnosis of ameloblastoma.

Keywords

• ameloblastoma; odontogenic cysts; odontogenic tumors; segmental mandibulectomy.