Ameloblastoma

Subtypes

• Conventional or classical, intraosseous, solid or multicystic ameloblastoma (SMA)

  This subtype shows a high frequency of root resorption of neighbouring teeth.

• Unicystic ameloblastoma (UA)

  The UA is usually found in the mandible.  The UA may show one or more nodules arising from the cyst lining and projecting into the lumen.   there may be one or more mural nodules in the cyst wall.

• Peripheral ameloblastoma

• Desmoplastic ameloblastoma

Immunohistochemistry

	Unicystic ameloblastoma	solid and multicystic ameloblastoma	odontogenic keratocysts	residual cysts	dentigerous cysts
Calretinin	82% (22/27)1	94% (29/31)1	0/222	0/262	0/202

Differential diagnosis

odontogenic keratocysts

• residual cysts

• dentigerous cysts

Management

SMA and UA with intramural nodules require  radical treatment. UA without intramural nodules may be treated by enucleation.

References

Philipsen HP, Reichart PA.  Unicystic ameloblastoma.   A review of 193 cases from the literature.  Oral Oncol 1998;34:317-25.

Reichart PA, Philipson HP, Sonner S.  Ameloblastoma; biological profile of 3677 cases.  Oral oncol Eur J Cancer 1995;31B:86-99.

Adv Anat Pathol 1999;6:63. *********

¹Altini, M., Coleman, H., Doglioni, C., Favia, G., Maiorano, E. Calretinin expression in ameloblastomas. Histopathology 2000;37:27-32.

²Coleman H, Altini M, Ali H, Doglioni C, Favia G, Maiorano E. Use of calretinin in the differential diagnosis of unicystic ameloblastomas. Histopathology 2001;38:312-317.

This page last revised 7.5.2001.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop