How to treat ameloblastoma

In real life, whenever we talk about tumors, everyone gets panicked, fearing that it is cancer. You know, there is still no complete cure for cancer today, and the treatment process for many cancer patients is also quite difficult. Of course, the tumor may just be benign, in which case it can be removed. However, the ameloblastoma we are going to talk about today is a bone tumor that is similar to benign and malignant. Therefore, early detection and early treatment are the best. Let's learn about how to treat ameloblastoma.

a. Ameloblastoma is more common in young and middle-aged people, and is prone to occur in the mandibular molar area and ascending ramus. The disease grows slowly and lasts for a long time, ranging from several years to ten years.

b. Generally there are no obvious subjective symptoms. Tumors vary in size and may be solid or cystic. As the tumor gradually grows, the jaw bulges, the face becomes deformed, the cortical bone is compressed, absorbed and thinned, and when pressed, it often feels like a "ping-pong ball" elasticity. When the tumor invades the alveolar bone, it may cause teeth to shift, roots to be absorbed, loosen, or even fall off. If infection occurs, inflammatory symptoms such as redness, swelling, and pain may occur. As the tumor continues to grow, the cortical bone is completely absorbed, and it expands outside the jawbone, affecting functions such as chewing and speaking.

c. Use surgical treatment. Although this disease is a benign tumor, it grows locally infiltratingly. Simple excision surgery is prone to recurrence, and repeated attacks may lead to malignant transformation. Therefore, the entire jawbone including the tumor is usually removed at the normal bone outside the tumor. When performing mandibular osteotomy, it is best to combine bone grafting to maintain the appearance and restore the function of the mandible.

There are two common postoperative repair methods: titanium plate repair and free bone tissue composite flap repair. Titanium plate repair surgery takes a short time and is inexpensive, but the occlusal function is poor, and a small number of patients will experience titanium plate breakage or exposure after surgery. Free bone tissue composite flap repair often uses autologous fibula transplantation, which is expensive and requires high technical skills of the doctor. The facial appearance is good after the operation, and teeth can be implanted to restore partial bite function. Although autologous fibula is used, it has no obvious effect on the function of the lower leg.

In summary, ameloblastoma is a benign tumor and does not fall into the category of cancer. Improper treatment alone can easily lead to deterioration, transformation or metastasis, and deterioration into cancer.