UNICYSTIC AMELOBLASTOMA: CLINICO-RADIOLOGIC AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION WITH MANAGEMENT.

Abstract

Unicystic ameloblastoma is a distinct entity of ameloblastoma characterized by slow growth and relatively locally aggressive behavior. This retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy of different treatment modalities for unicystic Ameloblastoma, focusing on clinic-radiological and histopathological features. Data from patients diagnosed with unicystic ameloblastoma were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were categorized into luminal and intraluminal (Group A), and mural (Group B) variants based on the Ackermann classification, which has a significant influence on their biological behavior, treatment approaches, and prognosis. Patients in Group A underwent enucleation with chemical cauterization and peripheral ostectomy and Iodoform packing, whereas those in Group B were treated with resection and reconstruction. Postoperatively, the patients were subjected to radiographic assessments via digital orthopantomogram (OPG) at regular intervals. Because of the rarity of unicystic ameloblastoma, 17 patients were included in the study (Group A: 9 patients; Group B: 8 patients), utilizing a mean follow-up of 4.9 years (range: 1.4 - 11.8 years).The primary outcome measure was the absence of recurrence, which indicated treatment success. No patient in either group presented with recurrence during the follow-up period. This study provides evidence supporting the successful treatment of luminal and intraluminal variants of unicystic ameloblastoma in young individuals using a conservative approach. However, the more aggressive mural variant demonstrated favorable outcomes with radical treatment. These findings emphasize the importance of Ackermann classification in guiding treatment decisions for unicystic ameloblastoma and contribute valuable insights into optimizing therapeutic strategies based on clinicoradiologic and histopathological findings.