ABSTRACT
Ameloblastoma is an uncommon odontogenic neoplasm that accounts for approximately 10 percent of all tumors originating from gnathic bones. Although its growth is localized, the tumor can also be infiltrative and persistent; however, its behavior is usually benign. The mandible is the most commonly affected site, and ameloblastoma is most frequently diagnosed between the fourth and fifth decades of life. In addition to a brief review of the literature, the present study discusses the clinical, imaging, histopathological and prognostic characteristics of these tumors by presenting two case reports. In these cases, the patients were aged 40 and 66 years, of different sexes and ethnicities and presented with the same complaint regarding localized and asymptomatic swelling. Both cases occurred in the posterior region (but on opposite sides) of the mandible. The patients were initially subjected to clinical examination and imaging of the face, followed by incisional biopsy to confirm (in both cases) the diagnosis of multicystic intraosseous ameloblastoma with a plexiform pattern. Both patients were treated by wide resection of the lesion (with safety margins), and only one patient experienced tumor recurrence. After 42 and 68 months of follow-up, the patients are still alive and show no signs of recurrence. Clinical and imaging findings aid in the differential diagnosis of ameloblastomas; however, histopathological evaluation is essential for its definitive diagnosis. Early diagnosis and precise detection of the borders to provide adequate safety margins during the surgical resection of the tumor are necessary to achieve successful treatment and recurrence-free survival for solid ameloblastomas.
El ameloblastoma es un tumor odontogénico infrecuente que representa aproximadamente 10 por ciento de todos los tumores que se originan a partir del maxilar y mandíbula. Aunque su crecimiento es localizado, el tumor puede ser infiltrante y persistente, y su comportamiento suele es benigno. La mandíbula es el sitio más comúnmente afectado, y el ameloblastoma se diagnostica con más frecuencia entre la cuarta y quinta década de la vida. Junto con una breve revisión de la literatura, el presente estudio analiza los datos clínicos, imágenes, características histopatológicas y pronóstico de estos tumores mediante la presentación de dos casos. En estos casos, los pacientes tenían entre 40 y 66 años, eran de diferentes sexos y grupos étnicos, que presentan la misma queja en relación con aumento de volumen localizado y asintomática. Ambos casos ocurrieron en la región posterior (pero en lados opuestos) de la mandíbula. Los pacientes fueron sometidos inicialmente a un examen clínico e imagenológico, seguido de la biopsia incisional para confirmar (en ambos casos) el diagnóstico de ameloblastoma multiquístico intraóseo tipo plexiforme. Ambos pacientes fueron tratados con amplia resección de la lesión (con márgenes de seguridad), y sólo un paciente presentó recurrencia del tumor. Después de 42 y 68 meses de seguimiento, los pacientes están vivos y sin signos de recurrencia. Los resultados clínicos e imagenológicos ayudan en el diagnóstico diferencial del ameloblastomas, sin embargo, la evaluación histopatológica es esencial para su diagnóstico definitivo. El diagnóstico prematuro y la precisa detección de las márgenes de la lesión proporcionan márgenes de seguridad adecuadas durante la resección quirúrgica del tumor y son necesarios para lograr el éxito del tratamiento y la supervivencia libre de recurrencia en los ameloblastomas sólidos.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Female , Aged , Ameloblastoma/surgery , Ameloblastoma/diagnosis , Jaw Neoplasms/surgery , Jaw Neoplasms/diagnosis , Biopsy , Odontogenic Tumors , Radiography, Panoramic , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Due to the difficulty of follow-up for long periods, information about the survival rates of malignant salivary gland tumors is deficient in the global scientific literature. This study was aimed at investigating the epidemiological profile and prognostic factors that might affect survival in patients with primary malignant salivary gland tumors in Brazil. Patients were investigated regarding histopathological subtypes, age, gender, anatomic localization, smoking and alcohol intake, tumor size, clinical stage, histological grade, recurrence, metastasis, and treatment on clinicopathological outcomes. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the log rank test and Cox regression, respectively. A total of 63 cases were analyzed, females being slightly predominant (50.8%), with ages ranging from 13 to 87 years. The most common diagnosis was adenoid cystic carcinoma and the most affected anatomical location was the parotid. Tumors were predominantly classified as stage I and high-grade at the diagnosis. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 84.6% and 74.7%, respectively. Disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 71.6% (5 years) and 56.6% (10 years). Univariate analysis showed significant effects of tumor size and clinical stage on the DFS (P<0.0001 for both), and Cox regression analysis confirmed clinical stage as an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.035). Our results highlight the relevance of clinical stage as an independent prognostic parameter for malignant salivary gland tumors.