Recurrent ameloblastoma in the anterior skull base： Report of 3 cases

Ameloblastoma is a benign but locally invasiveepithelial odontogenic tumor. Recurrence ofameloblastoma is most common after inadequate treat-ment, with an incidence up to 90% in the mandibleand 100% in the maxilla[1]. Despite radical resectionsincluding adjacent soft tissues, a recurrence rate of5% to 15% has been reported[2]. However, only a fewcases of recurrence reported in the literature involvedthe temporal fossa [3～5]. We presented 3 patients withrecurrent ameloblastoma in the anterior …

Recurrent ameloblastoma in the anterior skull base: Report of 3 cases

Recurrent ameloblastoma is common following inadequate excision but rarely presents in the anterior skull base. We presented 3 patients with recurrent ameloblastoma in the anterior skull base including the frontotemporal fossa and the pterygomaxillary fossa that occurred following multiple enucleations, segmental mandibulectomy, or partial maxil- lectomy for ameloblastoma in the jaws. Attenborough approach was used in the exposure of the frontotemporal fossa. Attenborough plus Barbosa approach was used in the exposure of the pterygomaxillary fossa. The patients were treated by radical dissection. Microscopy confirmed that the histopathologic pattern of one case was fixed follicular and plexiform, two cases were follicular. All patients healed without serious complications. The local recurrences of the patients following the operations were found in 3 to 4 years. The present study showed that the tumors in the regions had a greater recurrence potential even when treated with radical dissection, and the original tumors were the high-risk follicular pattern.