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.