Mandibular ameloblastoma with metastasis to the lungs and lymph nodes: a case report and review of the literature

A single cervical lymph node metastasis of malignant ameloblastoma

INTRODUCTION

Cervical node metastasis of malignant ameloblastoma is extremely rare. Because of its rarity, there is no standard treatment modality in a single lymph node metastasis in malignant ameloblastoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eleven patients of malignant ameloblastoma involving a single cervical lymph node metastasis and one new case were reviewed. Neck treatment was classified into neck dissection and simple excision. Local nodal recurrence, distant metastasis and follow-up periods were investigated.

RESULTS

Eight patients were treated with neck dissection (group A) and four patients underwent a simple node excision (group B). Two patients in group A experienced multiple organ metastases such as liver and lung seven months and 13 years after neck dissection respectively. The other patients showed no recurrence and metastasis. In group B, there was no report of a regional neck recurrence and distant metastasis during follow-up of 1-7 years.

CONCLUSION

Multiple nodes metastasis requires a radical neck dissection; however, simple excision with close follow-up may be used in a single node metastasis in malignant ameloblastoma.

Malignant ameloblastoma: concurrent presentation of primary and distant disease and review of the literature

Malignant ameloblastoma is a rare tumor of odontogenic origin with a metastatic focus. Distant metastatic disease is found most commonly in the lungs. A review of the literature shows that most cases of malignant ameloblastoma involve a disease-free period from primary tumor extirpation to the discovery of metastasis. This report describes the case of a 56-year-old man presenting with ameloblastoma of the maxilla and a solitary pulmonary metastasis concurrently. This represents a rare case in which there is a simultaneous diagnosis of primary ameloblastoma and a metastatic lesion. Appropriate workup for ameloblastoma includes surveillance for metastatic disease. Surgical resection of primary and distant disease is recommended. Chemotherapy and radiation may play a role in palliation when resection of metastatic disease is not feasible.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of mandibular ameloblastoma: a preliminary observation

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate ultrasonographic characteristics of mandibular ameloblastoma and assess the value of ultrasonography in diagnosis of the tumor.

STUDY DESIGN

Nineteen subjects with ameloblastomas in the mandibles were examined with ultrasonography. Locations, sizes, internal echoes, boundaries, and blood flow of the tumors were observed and documented. Ultrasonographic appearances of the tumors were compared with histopathological findings. Sensitivity and specificity of Doppler flow signals for prediction of active tumor proliferations were calculated.

RESULTS

The main sonographic features of the tumor appeared as a complex cystic mass with solid contents. Most tumors (15/19, 79%) showed no or minimal flow signals on color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI), whereas the remaining 4 lesions demonstrated abundant flow signals. The sensitivity and specificity of the Doppler flow signals for prediction of active tumor proliferations were 100% and 94%, respectively. The ultrasonographic appearances could be classified into 4 types: multilocular (10/19, 53%), honeycomb (4/19, 21%), unilocular (3/19, 16%), and local severe destructive (2/19, 10%).

CONCLUSION

Ultrasonography can be used as an effective supplementary diagnostic method for mandibular ameloblastomas. CDFI of tumor vascularity could be used to predict active tumor proliferations.

A case of recurrent ameloblastoma developing in an autogenous iliac bone graft 20 years after the initial treatment

A case of recurrent ameloblastoma developing in an autogenous iliac bone graft 20 years after radical resection of primary mandibular ameloblastoma is presented. This case showed extensive bony resorption extending throughout the auto-grafted bone. Seeding to the graft bone was suspected as a cause of the recurrence in the iliac bone graft because wide destruction of the graft bone was observed without any prior signs and symptoms of intraoral mucosa. Consequently, extensive resection of bone as well as adjacent soft tissue was performed. Persistent follow-up examination is essential for management of ameloblastoma.

Ameloblastoma in Nigerian Children and Adolescents: A Review of 79 Cases

PURPOSE

To descriptively review the clinicopathologic presentation and management of ameloblastoma in Nigerian children and adolescents and compare this with previous reports in the literature.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Data were collected from the case files of patients managed at 4 tertiary referral centers in Nigeria.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 360 patients with a diagnosis of ameloblastoma, 79 were under 20 years of age at presentation (21.9%). Only 2.5% of the patients were under 10 years of age. The male-female ratio was 1.3 to 1 with a peak age incidence of 15 years in males and 17 years in females. All the tumors were intraosseous and the majority (94.9%) were situated in the mandible. The most common morphologic type was solid multicystic ameloblastoma (82.3%). The majority (66.2%) had a multilocular radiographic presentation. In most patients (57.3%), the symphysial region of the mandible was involved by the tumor. However, exclusively anterior tumors constituted only 15.2% of the cases, while tumors involving anterior and posterior jaw regions constituted 41.1%. Resection was the predominant (72.2%) form of surgical management.

CONCLUSION

Ameloblastoma in Nigerian children and adolescents exhibit some peculiar clinical features: these include the predominance of males, and of the solid multicystic morphologic type. In addition, there is site predilection for the symphysial region of the mandible. Radical surgical resection remains the predominant form of treatment. Therefore, varying degrees of interference with facial growth will be present in these children.

Unilateral levator claviculae muscle mimicking cervical lymph node enlargement in a patient with ameloblastoma

We present a case of a 24-year-old man with an ameloblastoma of the mandible, in whom a soft tissue lesion was noted at pre-operative axial computed tomography (CT). This was demonstrated to be a unilateral levator claviculae muscle following multiplanar reformation. The levator claviculae is a relatively uncommon and little reported normal variant. It is of particular importance in head and neck carcinoma where it may be confused radiologically with lymphadenopathy and lead to inappropriate management.

Recurrence of multicystic ameloblastoma in soft tissue

Ameloblastoma is characteristically considered to be a benign but locally aggressive and infiltrative odontogenic tumour with a high recurrence rate. Most recurrences of the solid or multicystic ameloblastoma occurred at the edges of the initial tumour or at the bony cavity left after the excision of a tumour. A case of an isolated soft tissue recurrence of ameloblastoma of the mandible in a 58-year-old man is presented. The report illustrates the need to take into consideration the adjacent soft tissue in cases of tumour with cortical bone perforation during surgical treatment. This is especially important in an environment where patients are not likely to attend follow-up review for a long period. It also demonstrates the ability of intraosseous ameloblastoma to grow in soft tissues.

Metastatic malignant ameloblastoma responding to chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin

We report an unusual case of metastatic ameloblastoma, involving lung and pleura. that repeatedly responded to systemic treatment with paclitaxel and carboplatin. suggesting principle chemosensitivity of this rare disease.

Pulmonary metastasis of ameloblastoma: case report and review of the literature

Ameloblastomas are benign tumors of odontogenic epithelial origin. There is a high incidence of local recurrence associated with these tumors, and distant metastasis is rare. A review of the English literature shows that there have been 41 prior reports of pulmonary metastases from ameloblastomas of the oral cavity. We present another case of ameloblastoma metastatic to the lung and review the histopathology and mechanism of metastatic spread.

Ameloblastic carcinoma of the mandible

BACKGROUND

Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare, aggressive odontogenic neoplasm of the jaws in which the epithelial cells exhibit cytologic features of recognizable ameloblastoma and malignancy. Cases with metastasis have been infrequently reported.

METHODS

A case of a 64-year-old white woman with mandibular ameloblastic carcinoma with documented distant metastasis is presented. The patient's presenting symptoms included facial asymmetry of the right jaw over 2 months and the development of moderate trismus. Clinical manifestations, pathology, treatment, and biologic behavior are discussed. The nomenclature and classification of odontogenic carcinomas are reviewed, including entities that should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

RESULTS

The patient underwent surgical resection consisting of mandibulectomy, parotidectomy, and modified radical neck dissection followed by radiation to both necks and tumor bed. Postsurgically, the patient developed pulmonary metastasis at 11 months and expired with widespread metastatic disease at 28 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This case demonstrated an unusual behavior pattern in that local recurrence and regional metastasis did not occur. Distant metastasis occurred despite apparent adequate control of the primary mandibular tumor. The ameloblastic carcinoma is a highly malignant neoplasm which requires aggressive therapy. Prognosis is poor. Further reporting of ameloblastic carcinoma is encouraged.

Ameloblastic carcinoma of the maxilla: a report of 3 cases

Odontogenic carcinomas of the maxilla are classified as malignant ameloblastoma, ameloblastic carcinoma or primary intraosseous carcinoma. The term 'ameloblastic carcinoma' is used to describe those ameloblastomas in which there is histological evidence of malignancy in the primary, recurrent or metastatic tumour. Three cases of ameloblastic carcinoma with an unusual location in the maxilla are presented here. Histologically, the lesions were characterized by typical zones of ameloblastoma as well as zones with anaplastic transformation. The authors review the literature describing the clinical and histological presentation and the treatment of this rare tumour.

Cytological features of malignant metastatic ameloblastoma: a case report and differential diagnosis

In this report, the cytological features and differential diagnosis of the metastasis from and subsequent local recurrence of an unusual case of malignant (metastatic) ameloblastoma are described, with histological confirmation. Characteristic cytological findings included fibrovascular central cores surrounded by palisading crowded basaloid or columnar cells or both and rosette-like structures of tumor cells with central fibrillary material. Keratin debris in the background and cystic cavities were prominent components of the metastatic ameloblastoma. The basaloid cells showed scant-to-absent cytoplasm, round-to-oval to tear-shaped nuclei, rare longitudinal nuclear grooves, single or multiple nucleoli, and smooth-to-clefted nuclear contours. No features to predict malignant behavior were identified (abundant mitotic activity, necrosis, nuclear pleomorphism). The cytological features of ameloblastoma appear to be characteristic enough to allow definitive diagnosis. However, since the cytology of this tumor is underreported in the literature, the unwary observer could easily misdiagnose it, especially at metastatic sites.

Case report. Aggressive ameloblastoma treated with radiotherapy, surgical ablation and reconstruction

Surgical resection of aggressive solid or multicystic ameloblastoma is a well-documented and accepted treatment modality. Controversies exist, however, with regard to the extent of operative intervention. Unresectable lesions have been treated with radiation or combined radiation and chemotherapy. The authors present a case report of a patient with recurrent ameloblastoma who underwent simultaneous hard- and soft-tissue reconstruction.

[Metastasis of an ameloblastoma to the iliac crest]

A woman aged 31 had an ameloblastoma of the inferior part of the maxilla treated by excision and a bone graft from the iliac crest. Nine years later she presented with a metastasis from the tumour at the donor site. Metastases from an ameloblastoma are rarely encountered. In this case there might have been contamination of the donor site by tumour cells at the time of operation.

Pulmonary metastatic disease in ameloblastoma

Ameloblastoma is a rare disease of odontogenic origin with indeterminate metastatic potential. The first site of metastatic disease is usually the lung. We report aggressive surgical treatment of a patient with bilateral disease with five subsequent recurrences. A review of the literature suggests that in the absence of effective chemotherapy or radiation, surgery should be considered the treatment of choice for metastatic ameloblastoma confined to the lung.

Doubling time of ameloblastoma metastasizing to the lung: report of two cases

Two cases of malignant ameloblastoma with metastases to the lungs are reported. One originated in the mandible and the other in the maxilla. The doubling time of the metastatic lesions to the lungs were calculated according to Collins' method, and ranged from 129 to 201 days.

Ameloblastic carcinoma. Report of an aggressive case and review of the literature

Odontogenic carcinomas of the jaws are classified as malignant ameloblastoma, ameloblastic carcinoma or primary intraosseous carcinoma. Because these lesions are extremely rare, microscopic diagnosis is difficult. An aggressive case of ameloblastic carcinoma of the mandible is presented. In spite of radical surgery and radiotherapy, the patient expired eight months following initial diagnosis. - A review of the literature seems to indicate that so called simple ameloblastomas rarely can dedifferentiate and metastasize following multiple inadequate surgical procedures. Although radical surgery is not necessary, local excision should be thorough. - Ameloblastic carcinoma and primary intraosseous carcinomas may be histogenetically similar. They are highly malignant tumours which should be treated aggressively. Metastasis is common and prognosis is poor.