Solid ameloblastoma mimicking a periodontal defect: A diagnostic dilemma.
OBJECTIVE
To report a rare presentation of an ameloblastoma mimicking an endo-periodontal lesion.


METHODS
In this case report, we present the unusual clinical course of a 78-year-old Caucasian male patient, seeking single tooth implant rehabilitation at location 42 (lower right lateral incisor), initially unsuccessfully treated at different clinics for a persistent endo-periodontal lesion associated with this tooth, by both an endodontist and a periodontologist, which finally lead to tooth loss.


RESULTS
CBCT imaging of the anterior mandible region revealed a persistent radiolucency and subsequent enucleation of the lesion in the partially healed extraction socket revealed the true underlying diagnosis: a solid follicular ameloblastoma. A re-entry with biopsy was planned after radiological confirmation of lesion growth 1 year later, reconfirming the diagnosis and necessitating partial segment resection of the mandible.


CONCLUSIONS
In the presence of lesions refractory to therapy, consideration towards a broader differential diagnosis and an appropriate investigation should be undertaken before the decision on implant placement.
Deepti
D
Sinha
Titiaan
T
Dormaar
Natalia
N
Salvo
Constantinus
C
Politis
Michael M
MM
Bornstein
Reinhilde
R
Jacobs
D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging