[Pulmonary metastasis of an ameloblastoma]

We report the observation of a 78 year old patient who had a plexiform ameloblastoma since the age of 38. A systematic pulmonary radiographic examination revealed multiple dense nodules like "cannon ball secondaries". However the histology of these pulmonary nodules, obtained by open lung biopsy, was identical with the primary tumour and showed no evidence of malignancy. The dispersion to the lungs was probably explained by inhalation of tumour cells, itself favoured by 8 surgical curettages. The progress of these pulmonary lesions was as slow as the primary tumour. No therapeutic trial was attempted on the grounds of age, perfect clinical tolerance and the absence of any known therapeutic protocol which would be active.