Decompression and curettage for the management of conventional follicular ameloblastoma in a pediatric patient: A case report.

Abstract

Abstract:

Conventional follicular ameloblastoma is a locally aggressive benign odontogenic neoplasm whose occurrence in pediatric patients is uncommon and represents a considerable therapeutic challenge, given its potential impact on developing bone and dentition. We report the case of a 10-year-old male patient who presented with a six-month history of progressive facial swelling and asymmetry, accompanied by pain and paresthesia of the lower lip. Imaging evaluation by panoramic radiography revealed a well-defined unilocular radiolucent lesion associated with displacement of teeth 4.7 and 4.8, involving the right mandibular ramus and body. The definitive diagnosis was established through incisional biopsy, confirming a conventional ameloblastoma with a follicular pattern. The therapeutic approach initially consisted of decompression via intraoral tube drainage, followed by enucleation and curettage of the lesion, preserving the integrity of the developing mandibular bone.During a 14-month postoperative follow-up, radiographic assessment demonstrated progressive bone neoformation, with no evidence of recurrence or associated complications, and a favorable clinical outcome. This case suggests that conservative management represents an effective, low-morbidity therapeutic alternative in the treatment of conventional follicular mandibular ameloblastoma in pediatric patients, contributing to the existing evidence on this neoplasm in the pediatric population.