Amelobastic carcinoma of maxilla – A rare pathology

The maxilla is an unusual site for an ameloblastoma and certainly for an ameloblastic carcinoma. Ameloblastoma is considered benign yet locally aggressive neoplasm. However, very rarely these tumors demonstrate a clinical course of malignancy. Its rarity and in this context somewhat speculative histopathogenesis may account for diagnostic difficulties and sometimes refer to as malignant ameloblastoma. The designation of malignant ameloblastoma is reserved for lesions that despite their benign histology metastasize as well-differentiated cells whereas the diagnosis of ameloblastic carcinoma is reserved for tumors that demonstrate a malignant morphologic appearance regardless of whether metastasis is a proven fact at the time of discovery and treatment.