title: Resection of an ameloblastoma in a pediatric patient and immediate reconstruction using a combination of tissue engineering and costochondral rib graft: A case report.
abstract: Ameloblastoma is an odontogenic tumor predominantly occurring in patients who are in their 20s and 30s. Approximately 10% to 15% of ameloblastomas occur in patients younger than 18 years. Although it is a benign tumor, an ameloblastoma can have a devastating effect on children both physically and emotionally. The aim of this case report is to demonstrate how tissue engineering and surgical techniques can minimize morbidity and recovery time after extirpation and immediate reconstruction of a mandibular ameloblastoma.
  
  
  
  An 11-year-old girl was referred for surgical evaluation of a lesion found on a routine dental radiograph. Resection of a mandibular unicystic ameloblastoma resulted, including immediate reconstruction using a costochondral rib graft, allogeneic bone, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, and recombinant human morphogenetic protein-2. One year postoperatively, the patient had no evidence of recurrence as well as excellent mandibular bone height and width with good facial form. The patient has returned to her daily life without any disabilities or disfigurement.
  
  
  
  Dentists are typically the first health care providers to discover oral pathology in patients. The coordination of care by the dental care providers and the oral and maxillofacial specialist was key to the successful outcome for this patient. With biotechnology and surgical techniques, the dental surgeon can extirpate an ameloblastoma and reconstruct the mandible defect to the ideal shape and size with minimal morbidity and recovery time.
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Jonathon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jundt
authors.forename: Issa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Shum
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Melville
mesh_terms: D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D063175:Mandibular Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012272:Ribs / Q000637:transplantation; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Tissue engineering; bone grafting; bone marrow transplantation; bone substitutes; neoplasms; oral and maxillofacial pathology; oral and maxillofacial surgery; oral surgical procedures; pediatric dentistry