OBJECTIVETo study the clinic presentation, radiology, pathology of recurrent ameloblastoma (RAB).

METHODSAll RAB cases accepted treatment in School of Stomatology of Nanjing University during 1996.1-2008.3 were retrospected. The clinic presentation, the radiological classification and pathological classification were summarized and analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 23 RAB patients during 1996.1-2008.3. 3 patients recurred twice, 20 patients recurred once, and 26 cases were found together. 19 patients were performed conservative surgery while 4 patients were performed radical surgery in the primary treatment; 4 patients were performed conservative surgery and 19 patients were performed radical surgery in the recurrence. The radiological classification included 12 cases multicystic, 6 cases unicystic, and 8 cases extraosseous. The pathological classification included 21 cases follicular ameloblastoma, and 5 cases plexiform ameloblastoma. The multicystic after conservative surgery (11 cases) and extraosseous ameloblastoma after radical treatment (8 cases) were more than others according the radiological classification and treatment.

CONCLUSIONConservative surgery has apparent higher recurrences rate than radical surgery. The follicular ameloblastoma has more aggressive biological behave and is more liable to recurred.