Radiographic estimation of the growth rate of initially underdiagnosed ameloblastomas

Growth rate per year of a soft tissue recurrent ameloblastoma

Clinical Key Message

We present a case of recurring ameloblastoma in soft tissue, for which we have estimated the growth rate of the lesion. This information could help clinicians to establish follow-up protocols for the early diagnosis of recurrent ameloblastomas.

Abstract

In the present paper, we present a case of recurring ameloblastoma in soft tissue, for which we have estimated the growth rate of the lesion. The area of the whole resected specimen was measured using the ImageJ guide for complex object area. After dividing the area of the recurrent tumor by the number of years during the follow-up, we found that the lesion growth rate was 5.3 cm2 per year. Although further studies are still necessary in the literature to assess the growth rate of ameloblastoma, the present report shows a different methodology to estimate it. This information could help clinicians to establish follow-up protocols for the early diagnosis of recurrent ameloblastomas.