Ameloblastic fibro-odontoma in a 9-year-old boy

Introduction

Ameloblastic fibro-odontoma (AFO) is a rare, benign mixed odontogenic tumor that account for 1%-3% of all odontogenic tumors^[1,2]. Hooker^[3] reported the first case of AFO in 1967. In its 2005 classification of odontogenic tumors, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies AFO as odontogenic epithelium with odontogenic ectomesenchyme, with or without hard tissue formation. AFOs usually occurs at an early life stage, and thus the patient's age is an important factor in the diagnosis of AFO^[4,5]. The WHO classification notes that there are no sex differences in AFO patients. However, Furst et al.^[6] reported that AFOs are more common among males than female. The most characteristic clinical feature of AFOs is tooth eruption and swelling of the jaw. Radiographically, AFOs exhibit well-defined radiolucency with several levels of radiopacity depending on the extent of mineralization^[7]. Here we report a new case of AFO in a young boy. We preserved his unerupted tooth without recurrence over a 2-year follow-up.

Case report

A 9-year-old Japanese boy was referred to Okayama University Hospital in December 2013 for the evaluation of an unerupted tooth in his right lower mandible as indicated by his family dentist. The results of the extraoral examination were normal. There was no gingival swelling or redness on his first molar lesion. An oral examination disclosed no expansion of the right mandible, and the gingiva mucosa in the lesion appeared normal. There was no history of local trauma or infection.

A panoramic radiograph showed a well-defined multilocular radiolucent lesion extending from the right first molar to the mandibular ramus, containing radiopaque foci. The first molar was impacted by the lesion [Figure 1]. Cone-beam computed tomography images showed a multilocular well-circumscribed radiolucent lesion containing several small scattered calcifications on the right side of the mandible. Axial and coronal views revealed no evident buccolingual expansion of the cortex, although thinning of the cortex on the lingual side was observed [Figure 2A and B]. Magnetic resonance imaging showed heterogenoushyperintensity on short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images [Figure 2C] and intermediate intensity on T1-weighted images [Figure 2D]. The calcified body was detected as no signal on both the STIR and T1-weighted images.

Figure 1. Panoramic radiograph. The right first molar was impacted by the well-defined radiolucent lesion

Figure 2. Horizontal (A) and sagittal cross section (B) cone-beam computed tomography showing multilocular well-circumscribed radiolucent lesion containing scattered calcifications. Magnetic resonance imaging on short tau inversion recovery image (C) and T1-weighted image (D) showing calcification tissue

Based on the clinical and radiographic findings, AFO and ameloblastic fibro-dentinoma were considered the likeliest diagnoses. Four weeks after the first medical examination, we treated the patient. Under local anesthesia, a mucoperiosteal flap was made by incision in the external oblique ridge to the deciduous canine. Thin cortical bone was removed, and the white elastic tumor was exposed. The tumor was easily enucleated from the cortical bone, and the follicle of the first molar was removed. The first molar was preserved in the hope that it would erupt to occlusal plane. The flap was sutured. At the 2-year follow-up there was no evidence of recurrence, and the right first molar had erupted to the occlusal plane [Figure 3A and B].

Figure 3. Follow up after 6 months from surgery intra oral photo (A) and panoramic radiograph (B) showing erupted first molar

Pathological evaluation

Histopathological examination of the tumor specimen showed small islands and long strands of odontogenic epithelium in a cell-rich mesenchymal component. The structure of the epithelial component resembled the enamel organ in the peripheral cells are cuboidal or columnar. Stellate reticulum was observed in the central part of the epithelial tumor nest. The mesenchymal component was cell-rich and formed a dental papilla-like structure. Enamel matrix and dentin or osteodentin formation was seen within the ectomesenchymal tissue. These histological features confirmed the diagnosis of AFO [Figure 4].

Figure 4. Hematoxylin-eosin stain (×20): this lesion consists of soft and hard tissue components. The soft tissue component is identical to ameloblastic fibroma, the mesenchymal component was formed dental papilla like structure. The hard tissue component consists of dental hard structures or osteodenting, enamel organ. Enamel matrix formation was seen within the ectomesenchymal tissue

Discussion

AFO, a rare odontogenic tumor arising in oral lesions, was first reported in 1936 as rare case of ameloblastic fibroma^[8]. Although a 1981 report stated that there was no difference in the prevalence of AFO between the sexes^[9], more recent reports contend that AFOs are more likely to develop in males^[6,7]. AFOs usually occur in the molar area^[3,10]. The sites of distribution tend to be located in the mandible^[7]. AFOs have generally been observed in young patients; almost all of the AFO patients reported to date were in their first two decades of life^[4,5].

There are several distinct opinions about the origin of AFOs. Some reports indicate that AFOs and complex odontomas develop from an ameloblast fibroma (AF). Other reports indicate that AF is the true neoplasm, and that AFO should be regarded as an immature complex odontoma. Yet other reports claim that AF and AFO are different pathological neoplasms. In the latest (4th) edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck tumours, ameloblastic fibrodentinoma and ameloblastic fibro-odontoma are considered as part of the spectrum of histological changes seen in a developing odontoma^[11,12].

Buchner and Vered^[11] proposed that AF in younger patients may be either true neoplasms or odontomas in early stages of development. Clinical and radiologic characteristics can be some help of differential diagnosis.

In most cases of AFO, the surgical treatment is enucleation and extraction of the erupted tooth^[13]. In the present case, we preserved the erupted first molar in light of the patient’s age (9 years). Okura reported two AFO cases treated with the preservation of the unerupted tooth; the teeth erupted into occlusion after 2 years of observation^[14]. However, Furst et al.^[6] reported a case of recurrence after the preservation of the unerupted tooth. Friedrich et al.^[15] indicated that there is a little potential for the recurrence of AFO. Howell and Burkes^[5] reported two cases of malignant transformation of AFO to ameloblastic fibrosarcoma. In that case, there was no evidence of recurrence and the tooth had erupted into the occlusal plane at the 2-year follow up.

In conclusion, we have reported a new case of AFO treated with preservation of the unerupted tooth. At the 2-year follow-up there was no evidence of recurrence, and the right first molar had erupted to the occlusal plane. However, longer follow-up examinations should be conducted to monitor the status of an erupted tooth after the enucleation of an AFO.