Unicystig ameloblastoma.A prognostically distinct entity

Abstract

The occurrence of unicystic ameloblastoma has been studied in 20 patients presenting with unilocular cystic lesions whose clinical, radiographic and gross features were those on non-neoplastic cysts. In the majority of these, the lesion mimicked dentigerous cyst. The rate of recurrence for this group of lesions as determined by long term follow-up observation available for the majority of patients was distinctly lower than that associated with multicystic character of the lesion throughout its course, is indicative of a much less aggressive variety of neoplasm. The adequacy of simple enucleation as a modality of treatment in the majority of patients with this type of lesion is suggested. It was not possible to answer the question whether or not the ameloblastoma began in antecedent non-neoplastic cyst.

Odontogenic Tumors, WHO 2005: Where Do We Go from Here?

“…The text defines unicystic ameloblastoma using the criteria proposed in the original article by Robinson and Martinez [15] in 1977 and subdivides them into luminal and mural. The text does not acknowledge that subsequent authors have recommended that mural invasion should be viewed as conventional ameloblastoma [16][17][18].…”

Allelic loss of tumor suppressor genes in ameloblastic tumors

“…It has been suggested, however, that unicystic ameloblastomas may behave less aggressively than multilocular lesions, especially if associated with an impacted tooth. 10,11 Furthermore, the prognosis of tumors in the anterior mandible may be better than those arising in the posterior mandible. This difference in behavior may be due to the thick cortical bone surrounding the anterior mandible, which is presumed to be more resistant to infiltrative growth.…”

Hemangioameloblastoma: A Rare Presentation

“…2 Other less commonly encountered histologic patterns include desmoplastic ameloblastoma, 3 basal cell ameloblastoma, 1 clear cell ameloblastoma 4 and unicystic ameloblastoma. 5 The theory of an odontogenic origin for the ameloblastoma is supported clinically by the tumor's common occurrence in the tooth bearing area and is further reinforced by the finding of Spouge that one in every three such tumors are mural proliferations in intimate association with the reduced enamel forming epithelium of dentigerous cysts. 6 Variations in histomorphologic patterns do not appear to have a significant bearing on the biologic behavior or prognosis of these tumors, with the possible exceptions of unicystic and desmoplastic types.…”

“…6 Variations in histomorphologic patterns do not appear to have a significant bearing on the biologic behavior or prognosis of these tumors, with the possible exceptions of unicystic and desmoplastic types. 3,5 The hemangiomatous ameloblastoma (HA) was originally described as an ameloblastoma in which part of the tumor contained spaces filled with blood or large endothelial-lined capillaries. 7 Lesions with similar histologic features that probably represented the same entity were documented in the early literature as adamantinohemangiomas, 8,9 ameloblastic hemangiomas 10 and hemangioameloblastomas.…”