[Ameloblastoma recurrence in the grafted iliac bone: report of three cases]

Three cases of ameloblastoma recurrence in the grafted iliac bone were treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University from 1989 to 2005. Pathologically, two cases were follicular type and the other one was plexiform type. The recurrences occurred in the bone grafts in 3, 4 and 16 years respectively after the primary operation. It is recommended that block excision with at least 1cm of normal bone be required when the resultant defect is reconstructed with autogenous bone graft. A long-term followed-up of more than 10 years at regular intervals is also recommended after the operation of classic ameloblastoma.