Treatment of ameloblastoma by “Dredging Method”

Abstract

Ameloblastoma is a benign odontogenic tumour with variable clinical characteristics and histological patterns. Though it is benign, it is regarded as locally malignant lesion due to its local invasiveness and persistent growth. Resection of the jaw has been the principle treatment of ameloblastoma, as the chance of recurrence is extremely high if treated by simple enucleation and curettage. But the resection of jaw is associated with numbers of complications such as loss of jaw bone support, deformity, dysfunction and psychological distress even after reconstruction. To overcome these problems we considered a new concept of conservative surgical approach named “Dredging Method”. The purpose of this method is to eliminate the tumor cells completely and to accelerate new bone formation for eventual achievement of normal contour of jaw. In this procedure, deflation, enucleation and dredging are applied systemically in a sequential manner. We have been applying this method successfully since 1998 in our Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Dhaka Dental College & Hospital, Bangladesh.