Surgical Resection and Reconstruction of Ameloblastoma: A 13-Year Retrospective Review.

BACKGROUND: Ameloblastoma is a locally aggressive, benign tumor presenting in the maxilla and mandible prone to recurrence. Resection greatly limits recurrence; however, reconstruction becomes critical to preserve patients' functionality and esthetics.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe surgical resection and reconstructive approaches in the treatment of ameloblastoma and compare clinical outcomes to conservative methods of treatment.

STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE: A retrospective case series was completed through analysis of patient records. The study population was composed of patients treated for ameloblastoma at the Royal Brisbane Hospital (Queensland, Australia) in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2020. Patients without histological confirmation of intraosseous ameloblastoma were excluded from the study sample.

PREDICTOR VARIABLE: Not applicable. Main Outcome Variable(s): The primary outcome variable was time to recurrence. Secondary outcome variables included any surgical complications incurred.

COVARIATES: The covariate variables collected included age at diagnosis/treatment, gender, ethnicity, location of lesion and site(s) of involvement, tumor extent, alveolar expansion, histopathological growth pattern, and soft tissue involvement.

ANALYSES: Descriptive statistics were computed for each study variable.

RESULTS: A total of 48 cases of histologically confirmed ameloblastoma were identified (41 mandibular, 7 maxillary) involving 50 excisional operations (44 resections, 6 enucleations). Of these cases, 44 were followed up > 12 months, with a mean length of follow-up time of 65.6 months. No recurrence was detected for resected lesions. One enucleated lesion recurred at 25 months. Thirty-seven reconstructive procedures were undertaken, including 32 immediate free flaps. All reconstructive flaps and grafts survived, and no major complications were recorded.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Resection of ameloblastoma limits recurrence and should be considered curative. Immediate microvascular free flap reconstruction of maxillary and mandibular defects from resection of ameloblastoma is safe and predictable.