Abstract
This paper reports a basal cell ameloblastoma affecting a 66-year-old man whose chief complaint was swelling of the left maxillogingival region.
Buccal cavity examination showed an edentulous jaw with an elastic soft bulge and a tiny round ulcer in the left maxillary tubercle. X-ray examination indicated comparatively clear-cut bone resorption in the left maxillary tubercle. Exploratory excision resulted in a histopathological diagnosis of ameloblastoma, which prompted us to perform left partial maxillectomy. One year and 7 months after the operation, relapse occurred across the pterygoplatine fossa towards the proper nasal cavity. Under these conditions, maxillectomy was reperformed.
Histopathological examination of the removed portion of the maxilla showed the presence cells which principally resembled basal cells. These basal-like cells were partly continuous with the mucous epithelium and became increasingly diffuse with increasing depth.
