title: Recurrent ameloblastoma of the anterior skull base: three cases treated by radical resections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrent ameloblastomas rarely present in the anterior skull base but are, common following inadequate excision.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients are presented with ameloblastoma in the anterior skull base including frontotemporal fossa and pterygomaxillary fossa recurring following multiple enucleations, segmental mandibulectomy, or partial maxillectomy. The recurrences were found 3-4 years following the primary operations. All 3 patients were treated by radical dissection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microscopically one case was a mixed follicular and plexiform, two cases were of a follicular type. All patients healed without serious complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ameloblastomas in these regions have a greater recurrence potential even when treated by radical dissection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of San Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China. drchen@vip.163.com
authors.forename: Wei-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing-Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhao-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jiag-Gaung
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000601:surgery*; D035262:Cranial Fossa, Anterior; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*