[Recurrent ameloblastoma of the upper jaw--diagnosis]

Ameloblastomas of the jaw are rare epithelial tumors. They have to be differentiated from simple cysts and malignant tumors. If incompletely excised they have a high recurrence rate so that radical surgery from the beginning must be the therapy of choice. Exact preoperative diagnosis of the tumor and its possible spread into the infratemporal fossa or the pterygopalatine fossa, into the parapharyngeal space, the orbit or into the intracranial space is mandatory. In this paper we present a case with recurring ameloblastoma. The value of the different diagnostic procedures is discussed.