The ameloblastoma is a benign but aggressive neoplasm of odontogenic origin. However, no enamel or hard tissue is formed by the tumor cells. Ameloblastomas are infamous for their invasive growth and their tendency to recur. Robinson (1937) as a benign tumor that is 'usually unicentric, nonfunctional, intermittent in growth, anatomically benign and clinically persistent.’ They may occur at any age, even though nearly half of the tumors do occur between the ages of 20 and 40 years. This is the most common neoplasm affecting the jaws, yet only accounts for 1% of all tumors of the maxilla and mandible and 11% of all odontogenic tumors.
This report presents a case of ameloblastoma involving entire ramus and part of body of mandible with resorption of the mesial and distal root apices of second molar and distal root of mandibular first molar. The lesion extending till the base of mandible surrounding the crown of the unerupted third molar resembling the dentigerous cyst. This was surgically resected followed by harvesting the contralateral sixth costochondral rib graft.
Robinson HBG. Ameloblastoma: a survey of 379 cases from the literature. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1937;23:831.
Gorlin RJ, Chaudhry AP, Pindborg JJ. Odontogenic tumors: Classification, histopathology and clinical behavior in man and domesticated animals. Cancer 1961;14:73-101.
Appel BN, Verbin RS. Odontogenic tumors In: Barnes El, ed. Surgical Pathology of the Head and Neck. New York: Marcel Dekker 1985. 1331-1409 p.
Stafne EC, Gibiliscoo JA. Oral roentgenographic diagnoses. Philadelphia Saunders 1975. 169-187 p.
Regezi JA, Sciubba JJ, Pogrel MA. Atlas of Oral Pathology. WB Saunders: Phila 2000. 98-99 p.
Assael L. Surgical management of odontogenic cysts and tumors. In Peterson LJ et al. Principles of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Lippincott, 1992;3:694-97.
Regezi JA, Kerr DA, Courtney RM. Odontogenic tumors: Analysis of 706 cases. J Oral Surg 1978;36(10):771-778.
Small IA, Waldron CA. Ameloblastomas of the jaw. J Oral Surg 1955;8:281-297.
Gardner DG. Plexiform unicystic ameloblastoma: A diagnostic problem in dentigerous cysts. Cancer 1981;47(6):1358-1362.
Gardner DG, Corio RL. Plexiform unicystic ameloblastoma: a variant of ameloblastomas with a low recurrence after enucleation. Cancer 1984;53(8):1730-1735.
Ackerman GL, Altini M, Shear M. The unicystic ameloblastoma: a clinicopathologic study of 57 cases. J Oral Pathol 1988;17(9- 10):541-546.
Gold L. Biologic behavior of ameloblastoma. Clin Oral Maxillofac Surg 1991;3:21.
Robinson L, Martinez MG. Unicystic ameloblastoma: a prognostically distinct entity. Cancer 1977;40(5):2278-2282.
Leider AS, Eversole LR, Barkin ME. Cystic ameloblastoma: a clinicopathologic analysis. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1985;60(6):624-630.
Williams TP. Management of ameloblastoma: a changing perspective. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1993;51(10):1064-1070.
Stanley HR, Krogh HW. Peripheral ameloblastoma: report of a case. Oral Surg 1959;12:760.
Elzay RP. Primary intraosseous carcinoma of the jaws: review and update of odontogenic carcinomas. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1982;54(3):299-303.
Corio RL, Goldblatt LI, Edwards PA, Hartman KS. Ameloblastic carcinoma: A clinicopathologic study and assessment of eight cases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1987;64(5):570-576.
Miyamoto CT, Brady LW, Markoe A, Salinger D. Ameloblastoma of the jaw: treatment with radiation therapy and case report. Am J Clin Oncol 1991;14(3):225-230.
Minami M, Kaneda T, Yamamoto H, Ozawa K, Itai Y, Ozawa M, Yoshikawa K, Sasaki Y. Ameloblastoma in the maxillomandibular region: MR imaging. Radiology 1992;184(2):389-393.
Gardner DG, Pecak AM. The treatment of ameloblastoma based on pathologic and anatomic principles. Cancer 1980;46(11):2514- 2519.
Gorlin RJ, Chaudhry AP, Pindborg JJ. Odontogenic tumors: classification, histopathology and clinical behavior in man and domesticated animals. Cancer 1961;14:73-101.
Dolan EA, Angelillo JC, Georgiade NG. Recurrent ameloblastoma in autogenous rib graft. Report of a case. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1981;51(4):357-360.
Muller H, Slootweg PJ. The growth characteristics of multilocular ameloblastoma. A histological investigation with some inferences with regard to operative procedures. J Maxillofac Surg 1985;13(5):224-230.
Collings SJ, Harrison A. Recurrent ameloblastoma? An historic case report and review of the literature. Br Dent J 1993; 174:202- 206.
Muller H, Slootweg PJ. The ameloblastoma: the controversial approach to therapy. J Maxillofac Surg 1985;13(2):79-84.
Pinsolle J, Michelet V, Coustal B, Siberchicot F, Michelet FX. Treatment of ameloblastoma of the jaws. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1995;121(9):994-996.
