Odontogenic Tumors
Ameloblastoma
Benign but locally aggressive odontogenic epithelial tumour; the most common clinically significant odontogenic tumour.
§ figuresFigures (5)
Fig. 1Ameloblastoma
“Ameloblastoma” · Drg.AdiPratama · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Fig. 2エナメル上皮腫 濾胞型の組織像
“Ameloblastoma (Follicular Type)” · Baldanders · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Fig. 3ameloblastoma
“Ameloblastoma1” · Drg.AdiPratama · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Verified open-access images only, reproduced for education under their stated licences · no AI-generated or illustrative artwork · Ameloblastoma figures pending faculty review.
§ overviewOverview
A slow-growing, locally invasive epithelial odontogenic neoplasm derived from odontogenic epithelium.
§ epidemiologyEpidemiology
20–50 years; posterior mandible 80%. Equal sex distribution.
§ pathogenesisPathogenesis
BRAF V600E mutation in ~60% of conventional ameloblastomas.
§ clinicalClinical Features
- 01Painless bony expansion — 'egg-shell crackling'
- 02Displaced teeth, root resorption
- 03Facial asymmetry
§ histopathHistopathology
- 01Follicular: islands of odontogenic epithelium with peripheral palisaded columnar cells (reverse polarity, Vickers–Gorlin criteria) and stellate reticulum-like centre
- 02Plexiform: anastomosing strands of odontogenic epithelium
- 03Other patterns: acanthomatous, granular cell, basal, desmoplastic
§ radiographicRadiographic Features
- 01Multilocular 'soap-bubble' or 'honeycomb' radiolucency
- 02Buccolingual expansion, thinned cortex
- 03Root resorption, tooth displacement
§ cbctCBCT Findings
- 01Cortical perforation, buccolingual expansion, IAN canal relation
§ ctCT Findings
- 01Bony destruction, soft-tissue extension in aggressive lesions
§ mriMRI Findings
- 01Solid + cystic components; contrast-enhancing mural nodules in unicystic
§ classificationClassification
- 01Conventional (solid/multicystic)
- 02Unicystic
- 03Peripheral (extraosseous)
- 04Metastasising (malignant behaviour with benign histology)
§ treatmentTreatment
- 01Conventional: segmental/marginal resection with 1–1.5 cm bony margins + immediate reconstruction
- 02Unicystic (luminal/intraluminal): enucleation ± Carnoy's
- 03Mural unicystic: resection
- 04Peripheral: local excision
§ surgicalSurgical Management
- 01Resection with reconstruction plate + fibula free flap
- 02Enucleation + peripheral ostectomy for select lesions
§ complicationsComplications
- 01Recurrence (curettage 50–90%, resection 10–15%)
- 02Malignant transformation to ameloblastic carcinoma
§ prognosisPrognosis
Excellent local control after resection; long-term follow-up 10+ years.
§ vivaBDS Viva Questions
- 01Vickers and Gorlin criteria for ameloblastoma diagnosis?
- 02Compare enucleation and resection outcomes.
§ pearlsClinical Pearls
- 01'Soap-bubble' + 'knife-edge' root resorption + BRAF V600E = ameloblastoma.
§ mnemonicsMnemonics
- 01A-B-C-D: Aggressive, Benign histology, Cystic-solid, Deforming
§ mcqsMCQs — Assessment (1)
Question 1
Most common site of ameloblastoma:
§ evidenceReferences & Evidence
Current Classification
WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumours
5th Edition — Volume 9
WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board · 2022
The authoritative international classification of head and neck, odontogenic and salivary gland tumours. Current terminology on this site follows this edition.
Evidence summary
Highest level of evidence linked to this page: WHO / Official Classification.
- L1 · Classification — 3
- L3 · Systematic review — 1
- L4 · Research — 2
- L6 · Textbook — 3
1 linked source was published from 2024 onwards. Where guidance is limited or contested, rely on the higher-level sources above rather than this summary. Educational use only — not a substitute for clinical judgement.
Content last reviewed
September 2026
Evidence last reviewed
September 2026
Next scheduled review
September 2027
Review status
EVIDENCE REVIEWED
Search latest PubMed evidence
Last literature search: 7 September 2026
Current Classification
WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board. IARC / World Health Organization · 2022
The authoritative international classification of head and neck, odontogenic and salivary gland tumours. Current terminology on this site follows this edition.
Vered M, Wright JM. Head and neck pathology · 2022 · 16(1):63-75
Summary of odontogenic and maxillofacial bone tumour changes in the 5th edition WHO classification.
IARC / WHO. IARC · 2022
Continuously updated online edition of the WHO head and neck tumour classification.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Antonoglou GN, Sándor GK. Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery : official publication of the European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery · 2015 · 43(1):149-57
Systematic review comparing recurrence after conservative versus radical treatment of intraosseous ameloblastoma.
Key Research
Heikinheimo K, Huhtala JM, Thiel A et al.. Journal of dental research · 2019 · 98(1):54-60
Sequencing study characterising BRAF and other driver mutations in unicystic ameloblastoma.
Radiology References
Dunfee BL, Sakai O, Pistey R et al.. Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc · 2006 · 26(6):1751-68
Radiologic-pathologic correlation of benign and malignant odontogenic lesions of the jaws.
Histopathology References
Barnes L. CRC Press · 2008
Detailed histopathological reference for head and neck diagnostic criteria.
Textbook References
Neville BW, Damm DD, Allen CM et al.. Elsevier · 2024
Standard reference textbook of oral and maxillofacial pathology used throughout this atlas.
Rajendran R, Sivapathasundharam B. Elsevier · 2020
Undergraduate and postgraduate oral pathology textbook widely used in BDS and FCPS curricula.
Draft — pending faculty review. Educational use only; verify against current guidelines and primary sources before clinical application.