Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) is a rare benign nonneoplastic lesion. The exact etiology of IPT remains unclear. Inflammatory pseudotumor in the maxillofacial region is exceptionally rare, and it is often mistaken for a malignancy. The diagnosis is still difficult and is based on the histological examination of the lesions composed of 3 types of inflammatory cells: histiocytes, plasma cells, and lymphocytes. Due to its feature mimicking invasive malignant tumors, we should consider this entity before we carry out radical procedures. In this short report, we will present a case of an aggressive IPT involving the mandible and a review of literatures.

Ameloblastoma treatment varies based on the clinical, histopathologic, and radiographic characteristics. Aggressive surgical treatments, such as marginal or segmental resection, have traditionally been implemented, but some conservative surgical methods are also being introduced, including decompression, enucleation, or curettage. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possibility of applying these conservative surgical treatments to ameloblastoma and to analyze the prognosis of the procedures and their healing aspects. Among all patients who visited our clinic (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital at Gangdong) from 2009 to 2017, three who had undergone conservative surgery were recruited. One of these three patients underwent both excision of the lesion and an iliac bone graft during the same procedure. In the other two patients, due to the size of the lesion, decompression was performed to reduce the size of the lesion, and then conservative surgical treatments followed. As shown in the cases of this study, patients were only treated with conservative surgical methods, such as decompression or enucleation. During the follow-up period, there were no recurrences. In conclusion, the use of conservative surgical treatment in ameloblastoma can be a reliable, safe, and successful method.