Desmoplastic ameloblastoma: report of a unique case and review of literature

Abstract

Desmoplastic Ameloblastoma is a rare variant of ameloblastoma. 90 cases of desmoplastic ameloblastoma have been reported so far in literature. We are presenting a rare case of desmoplastic ameloblastoma in the ramus region of mandible with regards to its clinical and radiographical viewpoints. Only one other case of desmoplastic ameloblastoma has been reported in the ramus region of mandible of the 90 cases that we have reviewed. Review of literature has revealed the tumour to most commonly occur in the 3rd to 5th decade of life with a high preponderance of Japanese males. The anterior region of either jaw was most commonly found to be affected. Radiological appearance was most commonly of a mixed radio-lucent/radio-opaque type with a high incidence of poorly defined borders. However our case differed from the reviewed cases as it was found to be a unilocular lesion with well defined borders. Histopathological findings of our case were consistent with the hisotpathological appearance of the reviewed cases and showed extensive stromal desmoplasia and small tumour nests of odontogenic epithelium scattered in stroma.