MAXILLARY AMELOBLASTOMA - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF 13 CASES

Ameloblastoma is uncommon in the maxilla, comprising about 15% of all reported ameloblastomas. Ameloblastomas are locally aggressive and, wh en involving the maxilla, potentially lethal. The long term outcome of 13 patients with ameloblastoma in the maxilla for whom surgery was th e primary treatment between 1951-1990 was studied. Patient records fro m both private and public practices in Melbourne, Australia were exami ned as were those cases reported to the Bone Tumour Registry at the Un iversity of Bristol, England. The study showed that control of disease was achieved in all patients where the tumour was limited to the conf ines of the maxilla (10 cases). The mean follow-up period in this grou p was 7 years (range 2-20 years). In the three cases that recurred all had preoperative radiological evidence of posterior maxillary sinus w all destruction and/or pterygoid plate erosion. Two patients died of e xtensive local recurrence and one has persistence of the disease. Hist opathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of ameloblastoma in each case with a variety of histological patterns being noted. It is c oncluded that notwithstanding histological type, the extent of the tum our at presentation and the adequacy of the surgical approach and remo val were the main factors in successfully managing the disease.