A case of recurrent ameloblastoma 24 years after hemimandibulectomy

Ameloblastoma originates from the dental tissue and is generally regarded as a benign tumor although it often recurs and sometimes becomes malignant. The choice of treatment is very important in this disease. The incidence of relapse in patients treated surgically has been reported to be fewer than that in patients treated by conservative methods. Even when this tumor had been removed radically however, the possibility of recurrence remains. In this paper, a 56-year-old male with recurrent ameloblastoma is reported. The patient underwent hemimandibulectomy and an ameloblastoma was resected in 1971. The postoperative course was good. In 1995, however, he complained of swelling in the left gingiva and was referred to our hospital. On physical examination, a hard, reddish tumor located on the lateral side of the left gingiva was revealed. CT and MRI showed that the tumor was located in the left infratemporal fossa, and that it grew from the bone remaining after the previous surgery. The tumor was regarded as a recurrent ameloblastoma and was removed surgically by means of Weber's incision. Histological examination confirmed a diagnosis of ameloblastoma of the follicular type. There has been no sign of recurrence 10 months after surgery.