Papilliferous keratoameloblastoma: a case report with review of the literature.

Abstract

Ameloblastoma is the most common benign odontogenic tumour of the jaw bones and it exhibits a wide range of histopathological patterns. Papilliferous keratoameloblastoma (PKA), a rare variant of ameloblastoma, is characterized by the presence of papilliferous proliferations of the odontogenic epithelium, along with surface keratinization and keratin accumulation that may occur within the stroma. This report presents a rare case of PKA in a 44-year-old male patient who presented due to a recurrent exophytic growth in the right posterior mandible. A panoramic radiograph showed a well-defined multilocular radiolucency extending from the right body of the mandible to the anterior two-thirds of the ramus of the mandible. Analysis of an incisional biopsy of the cauliflower-like growth revealed a plexiform ameloblastoma with extraosseous extension. The growth enlarged again during the next 3 months and the patient was then operated on. The patient underwent resection of the right posterior mandible involving the second molar and ramus up to the coronoid, followed by stabilization of the mandible with a titanium plate. The final diagnosis of PKA was made on the basis of the unique histopathological features. A review of the literature on cases of PKA is included.