Curettage combined with decompression for the treatment of ameloblastoma in children: report of two cases

BACKGROUND

Ameloblastoma (AM) is the most common benign odontogenic tumor, which is more often detected in the mandible than maxilla, especially the mandibular body and mandibular angle. Pediatric AM is a rare disease, especially in patients aged 10 and younger. Compared with the mainstream osteotomy and reconstructive surgery for adult ameloblastoma, there is more room for discussion in the treatment of pediatric ameloblastoma. The postoperative functional and psychological influence can not be ignored. Especially for children in the period of growth and development, an osteotomy is often challenging to be accepted by their parents. We report two patients with ameloblastoma under 10 years old who are treated with curettage and fenestration, which is a beneficial method for children with ameloblastoma.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present two cases of classic ameloblastoma in children. We describe in detail the patients' characteristics, treatment processes, and follow-up result. The bone formation and reconstruction in the lesion area after fenestration decompression and curettage are recorded at every clinic review. The surgical details and principles of curettage and decompression are also described and discussed. The two patients have good bone shape recovery and no recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Children are in the growth and development period and possess an extremely strong ability of bone formation and reconstruction. Based on the principles of minimally invasive and functional preservation, we believe that curettage combined with decompression can be the first choice for treating AM in children, especially for mandibular lesions.

Granular cell ameloblastoma

A 42-year-female patient presented with a swelling on the left side of the face for the past 10 years. The radiograph shows multilocular radiolucency with evidence of root resorption. Histopathology reveals fibrous connective tissue exhibiting numerous odontogenic epithelial islands with peripheral tall columnar cells showing a reversal of polarity. The center of the island shows stellate reticulum like cells. The connective tissue also shows the presence of extensive coarse granular eosinophilic cells distributed throughout the section.

Benign Jaw Lesions

There are both odontogenic and nonodontogenic benign lesions in the maxilla and mandible. These lesions may have similar imaging features, and the key radiographic features are presented to help the clinician narrow the differential diagnosis and plan patient treatment. Both intraoral and panoramic radiographs and advanced imaging features are useful in assessing the benign lesions of the jaws. The location, margins, internal contents, and effects of the lesions on adjacent structures are important features in diagnosing the lesions.