Background: There is a lack of published data on the demographics and treatment outcomes of ameloblastomas treated in Australia. Our objective was to collect this data and compare the findings to other international studies. Methods: A retrospective study of 42 patients with ameloblastoma was conducted at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia. Data on the demographic features, management techniques (ablative and reconstructive), and outcomes were collected and analysed. Results: The majority of tumours were solid/multicystic (81%) and occurred most commonly in the mandible (80.5%). Unicystic ameloblastomas affected a younger age group, with Type 3 being the most common subtype. Overall, the recurrence rate for solid/multicystic ameloblastomas was 14.7%; however, radical surgery was found to have a significantly lower recurrence rate when compared to conservative management (p = 0.015), with a mean of 51 months follow-up. Results indicated that vascularized free-flaps had fewer postoperative complications than non-vascularized bone grafts; however, the differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: This is the largest clinicopathological study regarding ameloblastoma management from Australia, and our results support the current literature in recommending radical surgery for the treatment of solid/multicystic and Type 3 unicystic tumours.

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Introduction Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) can present with a wide range of clinical appearances. Consequently, an oral SCC, particularly in its early stage, may not be considered suspicious by a clinician, thereby delaying diagnosis. Delayed diagnosis of an oral SCC could result in more advanced disease at the time of treatment, leading to more extensive and costly treatment, greater morbidity and poorer survival. The aim of this study was to identify cases of oral SCC treated at Southern Heath (Melbourne, Australia) with a history of prediagnosis dental treatment, and to determine the delay between dental treatment and appropriate surgical assessment of the oral SCC. Methods Patients were identified from the head and neck tumour database at Southern Health who met the inclusion criteria and relevant data were recorded. Results Twelve patients met the inclusion criteria and 83% of cases involved the mandible. Dental extraction was the most common prediagnosis treatment performed (75%). The average delay from dental treatment to surgical assessment was just over eight weeks and all patients were found to have stage IV disease. Most patients had received extensive surgical resections (83%), neck dissections (75%) and adjunctive therapy (83%). Conclusions Oral SCC can sometimes be difficult to diagnose, which can result in more extensive treatment and greater morbidity. Health professionals and patients need to be aware that non-healing oral lesions, even after dental treatment such as a dental extraction, need to be considered as suspicious and an appropriate surgical referral should be made.

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