Ameloblastoma
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Ameloblastoma is a rare, benign neoplasm (tumor) of odontogenic epithelium (the cells that create the enamel, or outside portion, of the teeth) appearing in mandibular or maxillary structures (upper or lower jaw) of the mouth. While the resulting tumors are rarely malignant or metastatic (that is, they rarely spread to other parts of the body), and progress slowly, the resulting lesions can cause severe abnormalities of the face and jaw. Additionally, because abnormal cell growth easily infiltrates surrounding tissues, wide surgical excision is required to treat this disorder and recurrence is common.
Subtypes
There are four clinical subtypes of ameloblastoma: unicystic, multicystic, peripheral, and malignant.
Clinical Features
Ameloblastomas are often associated with the presence of unerupted teeth. Symptoms include painless swelling, facial deformity, pain, loose teeth, ulcers, and periodontal (gum) disease. Ameloblastoma is diagnosed through X-ray examination and biopsy.
Treatment
Ameloblastomas are relatively resistent to radiation therapy, thus, surgery is the most common treatment of this tumor. Because of the invasive nature of the growth, excision of normal tissue near the tumor margin is often required.
