Radiation Oncology/Head & Neck/Ameloblastoma
- First recognized in 1827 by Cusack JW
- Designated as adamantinoma in 1885 by the French physician Louis-Charles Malassez
- Finally renamed to the modern name ameloblastoma in 1930 by Ivey and Churchill
- Rare, benign or cancerous tumor of odontogenic epithelium (ameloblasts, or outside portion, of the teeth during development)
- Much more commonly appearing in the lower jaw than the upper jaw
- Four types of ameloblastoma have been described by the WHO 2017 classification:
- Conventional (solid/multicystic) type
- Unicystic
- Peripheral/extraosseous
- Metastasising (malignant)
- Surgical resection or enucleation remains the most definitive treatment for this condition
- Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, curettage and liquid nitrogen have been effective in some cases of ameloblastoma
