Ectopic Meningioma in the Maxillary Alveolar Ridge: Report of a Case with a Review of the Literature

Abstract

ABSTRACTAimMeningioma is a benign intracranial tumor. Occurrence of ectopic meningioma in maxillary alveolar ridge is very rare. Our aim is to add another case of ectopic meningioma in the maxillary alveolar ridge to the literature.BackgroundMeningioma is a benign tumor that originates from meningocytes found in arachnoid villous structures of the meninges. The tumor is rarely seen in extracranial locations from the oral cavity.Case descriptionWe report on a 51-year-old edentulous woman with an ectopic meningioma on the right maxillary alveolar ridge. The patient had complained of dull pain and discharge from the right maxillary alveolar region. On clinical examination, we observed a lobulated lesion 2 × 2 cm in size. Radiographic examination showed ill-defined radiolucency with irregular radiopaque areas. We also noted oroantral communication from the root of the lesion into to the maxillary sinus with bony destruction. We closed the oroantral communication by a buccal advancement flap. The histopathological diagnosis of the specimen was transitional type grade I meningioma. The patient's 5-year follow-up was uneventful.ConclusionThe histological subtype of the meningioma dictates the mode of surgery. Hence, resection is not considered the treatment of choice for grade I lesions. It is important to keep in mind that meningioma is the differential diagnosis of the intraosseous mandible tumors.Clinical SignificanceEctopic meningioma is very rare. Meningioma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in clinical lesion. In the literature review, this is the fifth case report and review of the literature.How to cite this articleSimsek HO, Komerik N. Ectopic Meningioma in the Maxillary Alveolar Ridge: Report of a Case with a Review of the Literature. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2012;1(2):98-101.