Ameloblastic Carsinoma of Maxillary Sinus (Case Report)

Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare malignant lesion with characteristic histopathologic features; however, sometimes these features are vague. Tumoral cells have an appearance similar to ameloblastoma but they exhibit cytologic atypia. On radiographic view, they behave similar to typical ameloblastoma. It might present as a cystic lesion with benign clinical features or as a large ulceration, with significant bone destruction and tooth loss. The lesion is often found after an incisional biopsy unexpectedly. Because of its aggressive behavior (extension to surrounding soft tissues, extensive bone destruction, lymph node involvement and metastasis), the treatment of choice for the lesion is wide excision. Regional lymph node dissection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy have restricted value for treatment. Close periodic evaluation of the patient is obligatory. We report a case of ameloblastic carcinoma of the maxilla in a 46-years-old male patient, including radiographic, clinical and pathologic features. The clinical and radiographic views mimicked ameloblastoma, while histologic sections revealed cytologic atypia associated by ameloblastic carcinoma. The patient was scheduled for preoperative radiotherapy before radical surgery.