Abstract
Ameloblastomas arising in the maxilla are rare, and preoperative diagnosis is often difficult due to its rarity and atypical clinical findings. A 61-year-old man ameloblastoma involving the maxillary antrum and the nasal cavity was seen on January 25, 2002, for 24-month history of slowly increasing left nasal obstruction. He reported severe left nasal obstruction, but had no nasal discharge, postnasal drip, cheek swelling, or dental or vision problems.
Radiography showed a multilobular legion in the left nasal cavity and the left maxillaly antrum with extension to the molar area, which was most remarkable with T2-weighed MRI.
On May 8, we explored the left maxillary sinus via a Caldwell-Luc approach. The tumor occupied the maxillary antrum and extended into the left nasal cavity via the maxillary ostium. The lateral maxillary wall was eroded, but the tumor was not invasive and was removed totally with minimal bleeding. Histologically, the excised tumor was compatible with ameloblastoma, plexiform variant.
