A rare case of maxillary ameloblastoma with lung metastasis: a case report

Abstract

Background Ameloblastomas are low-grade neoplasms of odontogenic epithelium that account for about 1% of all oral tumours and about 10% of odontogenic tumours. Rarely, these tumours have a potential of distance metastasis, and once they do metastasize, they are termed as metastatic ameloblastoma. Case presentation A 24-year-old African man presented with a massive swelling on the right side of the face for 2 years in 2018. He was previously operated for a swelling in the right side of the maxilla in 2012, which was histologically diagnosed as ameloblastoma. Clinical and radiological evaluation revealed a massive maxillary tumour that had a local extension to the brain. X-ray and CT scan of chest pointed out to metastatic mass in the lungs. Histology of the recurrent tumour mass revealed it to be follicular ameloblastoma and CT-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology of the lung mass showed microscopic features of ameloblastoma similar to primary jaw tumour. Conclusion A Close and long-term follow-up is mandatory in patients diagnosed with ameloblastoma even years after primary resection.