A retrospective radiologic analysis of the treatment outcomes of ameloblastomas

Abstract

INTRODUCTION : The current study reviewed the postoperative radiologic findings of 156 cases of ameloblastoma diagnosed at a tertiary institution in South Africa. METHODS : Histologically diagnosed cases of ameloblastomas between 2012 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Only cases with both pre- and postoperative radiographs of diagnostic quality were included in the study. The demographics, treatment and follow-up radiologic findings, including recurrences, were assessed. This clinical data was collected from all available patient records and histopathologic reports. RESULTS : Seventy-nine cases of ameloblastoma (50.97%) diagnosed at the institution had post-treatment radiographs available and were included in the study for further analysis. Conservative treatment, including marsupialisation and/or enucleation, was performed in 11 cases (13.92%). The recurrence rate for conservatively treated cases was 44.4% after a mean follow-up of 31.4 months. Tumour resection was performed in 72 cases (91.1%), including 4 recurrent cases previously treated conservatively. Tumour recurrence was only noted in 4 cases (7.5%) treated via surgical resection after a mean follow-up of 25 months. Spontaneous bone regeneration was seen in 19 cases (35.8%) of ameloblastomas treated via surgical resection. CONCLUSION : Ameloblastomas are benign neoplasms with high recurrence rates, emphasising the need for appropriate treatment and extended follow-up periods. The high recurrence rate reported in cases of ameloblastoma managed conservatively highlighted its inappropriate use in treating conventional subtypes. The presence of bony regeneration in this study was higher than the reported literature, correlating with the overall younger age of the current sample.