Ameloblastic carcinoma masquerading as dentigerous cyst of the mandible

Abstract

Ameloblastic carcinoma (AC) is a rare primary odontogenic tumor that has histological features of both ameloblastoma and carcinoma. The term AC was introduced by Elzay. In the last update of the World Health Organization classification, published in 2005, AC is defined as a rare odontogenic malignancy that combines the histological features of ameloblastoma with cytological atypia, even in the absence of metastases. It may develop de novo (primary type) or by malignant transformation of an ameloblastoma (secondary type) with a distinction between carcinoma ex intraosseous ameloblastoma and carcinoma ex peripheral ameloblastoma. Malignant ameloblastomas represent tumors that metastasize while both primary and metastatic lesions retain their benign histological appearance. We report a case of AC of the mandible in a 32-year-old male patient with clinical and radiological images and pathological features.