Maxillary unicystic ameloblastoma: a rare presentation

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Odontogenic Neoplasms
• Pathology

Background:

• Unicystic ameloblastoma (UAM) is a rare variant of ameloblastoma, an odontogenic epithelial neoplasm.
• UAM typically occurs in the mandible, making maxillary presentations exceptionally uncommon.

Observation:

• A woman in her late 30s presented with left anterior maxillary expansion caused by a cystic lesion.
• The lesion contained an impacted canine and a supernumerary tooth.
• Initial clinical diagnosis was dentigerous cyst.

Findings:

• The cystic lesion was completely enucleated along with the impacted teeth.
• Pathological examination confirmed the final diagnosis as intraluminal UAM in the anterior maxilla.
• This represents an extremely rare occurrence of maxillary UAM with associated dental anomalies.

Implications:

• Maxillary UAM with impacted teeth, though rare, must be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic jaw lesions.
• Clinical presentation of UAM can mimic dentigerous cysts, necessitating thorough diagnostic evaluation.
• Careful clinical examination is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of these rare odontogenic neoplasms.