Ameloblastoma plexiforme del maxilar:manejo quirugico y protetico. A proposito de un caso

The ameloblastoma is a clinically persistent benign tumor derived from odontogenic epithelium, locally invasive, intermittent in growth and with high a probability of recurrence. The following histologic patterns may be distinguished: follicular, plexiform, spindle cell, acanthomatous, basal cell type and granular cell. The follicular ameloblastoma is the most common histologic tipe. The majority of patients are in 3th, 4th and 5th decade, but can be found in any age group including children. The majority of ameloblastomas are observed in the mandible (mostly angle or ramus). Clinical features, even if combined with radiology or histology findings, are not useful when trying to determine the biological behaviour and therefore the prognosis of an individual ameloblastoma. The authors report a case of plexiform ameloblastoma in the posterior maxilla, in male 30 year old otherwise healthy; the term "plexiform" refers to the appearance of anastomosing islands of odontogenic epithelium in contrast to a follicular pattern. Important questions on pathology, surgical and prosthetic therapy are discussed in this paper. In conclusion, a close cooperation of clinicians, pathologists, surgeons and prosthesists is necessary and very important over a long period of time for the best management of each individual case.