Recurrent tumors of ameloblastoma: Clinicopathologic features and diagnostic outcome.

CONTEXT

Ameloblastoma is a benign epithelial odontogenic tumor with a tendency for recurrence. Some recurrent tumors could behave unpredictably with atypical microscopic changes.

AIM

To study the clinicopathologic features and diagnoses of recurrent tumors of ameloblastoma.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

This is a 5-year (2012-2017) retrospective study of 17 consecutive patients with recurrent tumors of ameloblastoma in a Teaching Hospital in Enugu.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

The relevant clinicopathologic information, histology slides, and blocks were retrieved and reviewed. Descriptive analysis was used to determine the frequency, tables for categorical variables, and a Chi-square test was used to determine the statistical significance.

RESULT

Recurrent tumors constituted 33.3% (17/51) of all confirmed diagnoses of ameloblastoma. The histopathologic diagnosis of the recurrent tumors includes conventional ameloblastoma 58.8% (10/17), unicystic ameloblastoma 5.9% (1/17), and ameloblastic carcinoma 35.3% (6/17). There was bilateral mandibular involvement in 60.0%, pain 58.8%, ulceration 29.4%, and matted lymph nodes 5.9%. Tumors with positive fluid aspirates 82.4% (14/17) yielded dark-brown fluids in 90.0% (9/10) of recurrent ameloblastomas and in 66.7% (2/3) of ameloblastic carcinomas.

CONCLUSION

There was a high recurrence rate of recurrent tumors of ameloblastoma demonstrated in the present study, with a malignant presentation in some cases.