Recurrent tumors of ameloblastoma: Clinicopathologic features and diagnostic outcome.

Abstract

Ameloblastoma is a benign epithelial odontogenic tumor with a tendency for recurrence. Some recurrent tumors could behave unpredictably with atypical microscopic changes. To study the clinicopathologic features and diagnoses of recurrent tumors of ameloblastoma. This is a 5-year (2012-2017) retrospective study of 17 consecutive patients with recurrent tumors of ameloblastoma in a Teaching Hospital in Enugu. 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. 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. There was a high recurrence rate of recurrent tumors of ameloblastoma demonstrated in the present study, with a malignant presentation in some cases.