Unicystic Ameloblastoma
Pathology diagnosis: Unicystic ameloblastoma, suspicious for mural subtype. Unicystic ameloblastoma is one of the benign cysts or growths of the jaw, it is locally aggressive and destructive. It also comes in 3 varients or sub-types (luminal, intraluminal, and mural types). Mural subtype being the most aggressive form. . Treatment has been reported anywhere from a simple removal to en bloc resection (removal of affected and adjacent normal bone). The problem or issue with all ameoloblastomas is their relatively high reoccurence rate, including the unicystic form. . Although probably controversial, we decided to decompress and marsupialize the cyst or growth so we can shrink the size. She will still need a definitive removal of the growth in the future. Our goal is to help salvage the patient from a large surgery and difficult reconstruction, save half of her jaw, some teeth, perserve the nerve that goes to the lip, and maintain her TMJ. The tubes were placed to allow the patient to rinse and irrigate the cyst while keeping the access holes open to allow for shrinkage. .