Sinonasal ameloblastoma: Clinical case presentation and literature review
Main Article Content
Keywords
Ameloblastoma, Odontogenic Neoplasm, Nasal Polyp, Head and Neck Neoplasms
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Sinonasal ameloblastoma is considered a locally benign, rare, and locally aggressive neoplasm. It is included within the so-called peripheral ameloblastomas. The symptoms are nonspecific, such as epistaxis, rhinorrhea, and nasal obstruction. The diagnosis requires a broad approach, imaging studies and complete clinical history; however, the histopathological diagnosis is the gold standard. As for treatment, the mainstay is surgical; however, it is currently being studied to complement it with radiotherapy or BRAF inhibitors. The objective was to present a clinical case of a Mexican patient, as well as to make a bibliographic review of the subject.
Clinical case: Woman originally from and resident of Mexico City who began with hearing loss, rhinorrhea, and nasal obstruction. Imaging studies revealed a mass that completely occupied the right maxillary sinus and the ipsilateral nasal cavity. The pathology study revealed that it was an ameloblastoma.
Conclusions: Although rare, the described case presented the clinical characteristics described in the international literature, and even though there are no standardized guidelines for the treatment of this entity, appropriate treatment was provided in accordance with international recommendations for these cases.
References
1. Nelson BL. Head and neck pathology. 3a ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2019. pp. 383-416.
2. Schafer DR, Thompson LD, Smith BC, et al. Primary ameloblastoma of the sinonasal tract: a clinicopathologic study of 24 cases. Cancer. 1998; 82(4): 667-674. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19980215)82:4<667::aid-cncr8>3.0.co;2-i.
3. Rosai J, Ackerman LV. Patología Quirúrgica de Rosai y Ackerman. 10a ed. Amolca; 2013.
4. World Health Organization. Classification of Tumours Editorial Board. Head and neck tumours. 5th ed., vol. 9. Lyon (France): WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board; 2023.
5. Weissman JL, Snyderman CH, Yousef SA, et al. Ameloblastoma of the Maxila: CT and MR Appearance. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1993;14(1):223-6. Disponible en: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/instance/8334476/pdf/8427095.pdf
6. Ranchod S, Titinchi F, Behardien N, et al. Ameloblastoma of the mandible: Analysis of radiographic and histopathological features. J Oral Med Oral Surgery. 2021;27(6). doi: 10.1051/mbcb/2020051
7. Raha S, Desai RS, Shirsat PM, et al. Primary sinonasal ameloblastoma: A case illustration and systematic review of literature. Oral Oncol Rep. 2024;9. doi: 10.1016/j.oor.2024.100171
8. Mehta V, Sarode GS, Obulareddy VT, et al. Clinicopathologic Profile, Management and Outcome of Sinonasal Ameloblastoma-A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2023;12(1):381. doi: 10.3390/jcm12010381
9. Mamat Yusof MN, Ch'ng ES, Radhiah Abdul Rahman N. BRAF V600E Mutation in Ameloblastoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(22):5593. doi: 10.3390/cancers14225593
10. Ghai S. Ameloblastoma: An Updated Narrative Review of an Enigmatic Tumor. Cureus. 2022;14(8):e27734. doi: 10.7759/cureus.27734
11. Kim JE, Cho JB, Yi WJ, et al. Classification and prognostic evaluation of ameloblastoma using multiplanar CT imaging: a retrospective analysis. BMC Oral Health. 2025;25(1):115. doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-05485-6
12. Inthong P, Upalananda W, Saepoo J. Factors Associated with Recurrence of Ameloblastoma: A Scoping Review. Head Neck Pathol. 2024;18(1):82. doi: 10.1007/s12105-024-01686-7
13. Mendez LD, Wolsefer NS, Asa SL, et al. The diagnostic utility of BRAF VE1 mutation-specific immunohistochemistry in ameloblastoma. Mod Pathol. 2022;35(11):1570-7. doi: 10.1038/s41379-022-01105-8
14. Malakar A, Kumar VR, Yadav P, et al. The Role of BRAF Inhibitors in the Management of Ameloblastoma: A Literature Review. Cureus. 2023;15(10):e47682. doi: 10.7759/cureus.47682
15. Lu Y, Zhang X, Li X. Molecular biology exploration and targeted therapy strategy of Ameloblastoma. Arch Oral Biol. 2022;140: doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2022.105454
16. Matsuo M, Kuga R, Manako T, et al. BRAF mutation in five cases of sinonasal ameloblastic tumors and their clinical course: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2025;19(1):210. doi: 10.1186/s13256-025-05224-z
17. Kumari S, Pandey S, Verma M, et al. Clinicopathological Challenges in Tumors of the Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses: Our Experience. Cureus. 2022;14(9):e29128. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29128
18. Marxgut L, Fourneret P, Waissi W. Exploring treatment complexity in maxillary ameloblastoma: A case study on the efficacy of radiotherapy with transcriptomic and literature insights. Cancer Radiother. 2025;29(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.canrad.2025.104591
19. Chebil A, Hasnaoui M, Bhar S, et al. Asymptomatic ameloblastoma of the maxilla with infratemporal fossa involvement: A case report. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2022;98:107457. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2022.107457
20. Al-Hakami HA, I Awad B, Alsolamy RM, et al. Ameloblastoma of the Maxilla with Distant Metastases to the Lungs: A Case Report and Literature Review. Cureus. 2024;16(6):e63233. doi: 10.7759/cureus.63233
Article Sidebar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors retain their copyright and grant the Revista Médica del IMSS the right of first publication. Articles are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which allows sharing as long as the author and the original source are properly credited.