Ameloblastoma of the Maxilla With Distant Metastases to the Lungs: A Case Report and Literature Review

Maxillary ameloblastoma is one of the rarest odontogenic epithelial tumors encountered, as 80% of ameloblastomas are seen within the mandible. Ameloblastoma is usually incidentally detected in the third to fourth decades of life, as most patients remain asymptomatic; yet some patients may complain of a slowly growing, painless swelling. We present a case of maxillary ameloblastoma with pulmonary metastasis along with a brief literature review. A 17-year-old male initially presented with painless right facial swelling, which, on examination, was non-tender, immobile, irregular, pink in color, with a high tendency to bleed, and located in the mucogingival sulcus with a size of around 3x2.5 cm. Following comprehensive radiological and histopathological evaluation, the diagnosis of ameloblastoma characterized by the coexistence of plexiform and follicular patterns was confirmed. The patient underwent a partial right maxillectomy with an obturator sealing the hard palate. Unfortunately, multiple local recurrences were identified afterward, and eventually, pulmonary metastasis was detected. Early and adequate surgical resection of the primary tumor is crucial to prevent further recurrences in patients with ameloblastoma. This could be achieved by providing a tight postoperative follow-up schedule while paying special attention to the lungs, neck, and other suspicious areas to detect metastasis as early as possible.