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Review
. 2009 Sep;45(9):752-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2009.01.016. Epub 2009 Jul 23.

Desmoplastic ameloblastoma - A review

Zhi-Jun Sun  1 , Yan-Ru Wu, Ning Cheng, Roger A Zwahlen, Yi-Fang Zhao
Affiliations
Review

Desmoplastic ameloblastoma - A review

Zhi-Jun Sun et al. Oral Oncol. 2009 Sep.

Abstract

Among the ameloblastomas, the desmoplastic variation is rare. The desmoplastic ameloblastoma (DA) is characterized by specific clinical, imaging, and histological features. The here presented retrospective analysis investigated the clinicoradiographic features of an overall of 115 DA-cases, having been reported in literature from 1984 to 2008. DA showed a nearly equal male to female ratio (55/59) with a prevalence within the forth and fifth decades. Sixty-two lesions occurred in the mandible and fifty-one lesions in the maxilla. Clinically, a painless swelling with buccal extension was the most common presentation being found in 48 cases. Radiologically, the lesion often presented multilocular (49.3%; 36/73), mixed radiolucent/radiopaque (55.6%; 50/90) and with ill-defined borders (64.0%; 48/75). Whereas enucleation provided a recurrence rate of 21.1%, resection reduced this rate remarkably to 3.1%. The average period until recurrence was 36.9 months. Histologically, scattered epithelial nests and extensively desmoplasia were prominent features of DA. In conclusion, these retrospective results confirm the statement that DA is a variation among ameloblastomas. DA present clinicoradiographic and histologic distinct features, when compared with "conventional ameloblastomas".

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement

None declared

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Histological specimen of a desmoplastic ameloblastoma presenting with irregularly shaped epithelial island, surrounded by narrow zones of loose-structured connective tissue embedded in desmoplastic stroma. (HE Hematoxylin and eosin stain, original magnification ×10.)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age and gender distribution of 114 desmoplastic ameloblastomas (A). Distribution of tooth involvement among 61 desmoplastic ameloblastomas (B).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Clinical aspect of a desmoplastic ameloblastoma presenting with slow-growing mass with buccal/labial expansion.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Radiological features of desmoplastic ameloblastoma. The lesion presents with a “honeycomb appearance” with tooth displacement (A).Radiograph revealing a unilocular radiolucency (arrow) with tooth displacement in the mandible (B). Computed tomography present with an ill-defined mixed density (arrow) of buccal expansion (C).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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