Successful Conservative Surgical Treatment of Ameloblastic Fibroma in the Posterior Maxilla : A Case Report

Lee, Youngeun; Ahn, Hyojung; Lee, Sooeon; Kim, Euncheol; Choi, Sungchul

Journal of the Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 2013;40(4):321-327.
Published online November 30, 2013.

Successful Conservative Surgical Treatment of Ameloblastic Fibroma in the Posterior Maxilla : A Case Report

Youngeun Lee¹, Hyojung Ahn¹, Sooeon Lee¹, Euncheol Kim², Sungchul Choi¹

¹Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of dentistry, Kyung Hee University
²Department of Maxillofacial Tissue Regeneration, School of Dentistry and Research Center for Tooth and Periodontal Tissue Regeneration, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University

상악 구치부에 발생한 법랑모세포섬유종의 성공적인 보존적 수술 : 증례 보고

이영은¹, 안효정¹, 이수언¹, 김은철², 최성철¹

¹경희대학교 치의학전문대학원 소아치과학교실
²경희대학교 치의학전문대학원 조직학교실

Correspondence: Sungchul Choi, Tel: +82 2 958 9339, Fax: +82 2 965 7247, Email: pedochoi@khu.ac.kr

Received: 23 May 2013 • Accepted: 12 September 2013

Abstract

Ameloblastic fibroma (AF) is a rare odontogenic ectomesenchymal tumor that is frequently seen in the first two decades of life, and occurs in the mandible. The most proper management of AF has been a recent topic of debate because of its recurrence and malignant transformation. This report describes AF in a 4-year-old male, which was a unilocular radiolucency on the maxillary right primary molar area with a scalloped border and corticated margin. The tumor was treated conservatively with enucleation and curettage, and the decision was made to preserve the right primary second molar. A biopsy confirmed it as AF. During the 43 months of follow-up, the patient had no evidence of recurrence or malignant transformation. Moreover, the radiographic examination revealed the generation of tooth germ to be a permanent second premolar. This report shows a case of AF in the posterior maxilla of a 4-year-old boy and discusses the conservative therapeutic approach to this tumor. Therefore, the age of the patients should be an important consideration when choosing conservative or radical surgery in a young AF patient.

Key Words: Ameloblastic fibroma, Mixed odontogenic tumor, Enucleation