Pulmonary metastatic disease in ameloblastoma.

Abstract

Ameloblastoma is a rare disease of odontogenic origin with indeterminate metastatic potential. The first site of metastatic disease is usually the lung. We report aggressive surgical treatment of a patient with bilateral disease with five subsequent recurrences. A review of the literature suggests that in the absence of effective chemotherapy or radiation, surgery should be considered the treatment of choice for metastatic ameloblastoma confined to the lung.