Abstract
We encountered a case of recurrent ameloblastoma in soft tissue that appeared 21 years after segmental resection of a tumor. The patient was a 47-year-old woman who had undergone segmental resection and reconstruction of the mandible with iliac bone in 1978.
The clinical, radiographic, and histopathological findings suggested that the reccurence originated from the amputated end of the soft tissue. Reccurence may have been caused by seeding of tumor cells into the adjacent periosteum and mucosa.
Among 7 patients who underwent radical resection over the past 20 years, 6 had recurrences of ameloblasoma from the amputated end of the soft tissue. The average interval to postoperative recurrence was 14.5 years.
Ameloblasoma indicated for segmental resection of the mandible often extends to soft tissue after penetrating bone. Therefore, ameloblastoma should be resected with a safety margin of soft tissue and followed up for 15 to 20 years.
