Ameloblastoma, desmoplastic type: A case report and review of literature

Ameloblastoma, desmoplastic type (DA) is a tumor with a stroma composed of numerous collagen fibers. And, it shows a poorly marginated, honeycombing image on X-ray. It has no capsule, which makes it difficult to resect with adequate surgical margins. Therefore, the rate of DA recurrence is higher than that of other types of ameloblastoma. In this report, a case of DA of the maxilla arising in a 22-year-old man with swelling of the right maxillary anterior gingiva is described. Under the clinical diagnosis of DA, tumor resection was performed under general anesthesia. Histopathological examination of the resected tumor showed that the tumor was solid with fibroconnective tissue consisting of collagen fibers. Inside the fibroconnective tissue, scattered small tumor nests composed of odontogenic epithelium were found. Some of the nests invaded the maxillary bone. No recurrence was observed for 5 years postoperatively.