Características clínicas e imaginológicas de ameloblastoma com 15 anos de seguimento: relato de caso

Abstract

The aim of this study was to report a case with 15 years of follow-up in which a lesion initially diagnosed as a dentigerous cyst recurred and exhibited progressively aggressive behavior. This descriptive case report involves a 25-year-old male patient who was originally diagnosed with a dentigerous cyst and subsequently underwent additional examinations, including cone-beam computed tomography and histopathological analysis, which confirmed the correct diagnosis of ameloblastoma. The chosen treatment was partial mandibulectomy followed by mandibular reconstruction with plates and screws. Postoperative follow-up included radiographic imaging and clinical evaluations to monitor for potential recurrence. The patient remains without prosthetic rehabilitation. This case highlights the impact of an inadequate initial diagnosis of a potentially aggressive radiolucent lesion on the extent of surgical intervention required and on the patient’s functional prognosis. Distinguishing between odontogenic cysts and tumors demands strict correlation of clinical, imaging, and histopathological findings, particularly in lesions associated with unerupted teeth. The late recurrence with clearly aggressive features reinforces the need for long-term follow-up and diagnostic reassessment whenever the clinical course deviates from the expected pattern.