Conservative Treatment of Ameloblastoma in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report

Ameloblastomas typically occur in adults and are considered a rarity in the pediatric patient population. We report on the treatment outcome of a pediatric patient who presented with a unicystic ameloblastoma in the mandible. A 15-year-old boy presented with a large, expansile lesion in the ramus-angle region of the mandible. Incisional biopsy findings confirmed the lesion was a type II unicystic ameloblastoma. Treatment consisted of unroofing of the bone overlying the lesion followed by enucleation with peripheral ostectomy. A 10-mL disposable Luer-lock syringe was cut and modified to fit into the window of the lesion to facilitate irrigation with saline solution. The disposable syringe was held in position with 0.18-mm stainless steel wire for 3 months. Modification of the conservative treatment using the syringe allowed for complete regeneration of bone in the large cavity without the need for bone graft or resection of the lesion. At the 3-year follow-up, there was no sign of recurrence.