Ameloblastoma
Pronunciation: ah-mel-oh-blas-TOH-mah
A benign but locally aggressive odontogenic tumour that typically presents radiographically as a multilocular radiolucent lesion with a 'soap bubble' or 'honeycomb' appearance, most commonly in the posterior mandible.
Full Definition
Ameloblastoma is one of the most clinically significant odontogenic tumours encountered in dental radiology. It arises from remnants of the dental lamina or enamel organ and most frequently affects the posterior mandible. Radiographically, it classically appears as a multilocular radiolucency with scalloped borders, often described using the 'soap bubble' or 'honeycomb' metaphors. Unilocular variants also exist, particularly in younger patients, and may be indistinguishable from a dentigerous cyst on plain radiographs. CBCT is often employed to assess cortical expansion and root resorption before surgical planning.
Usage
Usage note: Editors should retain the full term; 'ameloblastoma' should not be abbreviated or paraphrased in clinical reports. Note the British spelling retains no hyphen.
In Context
- "The panoramic radiograph revealed a well-defined multilocular radiolucency extending from the lower left second molar to the ramus, consistent with ameloblastoma." — Radiology report
- "Histopathological confirmation is essential, as the radiographic appearance of ameloblastoma may overlap with that of several other odontogenic lesions." — Clinical textbook