Maxillary Ameloblastoma With Pulmonary Metastasis: Management Challenges in Resource-Limited Setting—A Case Report

Introduction: Ameloblastoma is a benign odontogenic tumor that may exhibit aggressive biological behavior with local recurrence. It more commonly occurs in the mandible than the maxilla. Rarely, ameloblastoma may metastasize to local regional lymph nodes and/or distant organs, notably lungs, brain, and skin, hence the term metastasizing (malignant) ameloblastoma (MA), in keeping with the WHO definition of MA in its recent classification of odontogenic tumors (2017). Here, we report a rare case of maxillary ameloblastoma that metastasized to the lungs in a 22-year-old African male. Radiological evaluation revealed a massive maxillary tumor that had a local extension to the brain. Chest x-ray and CT scan pointed out metastatic mass to the lungs. Histology of the tumor mass revealed it to be follicular ameloblastoma with aggressive behavior shown by abnormal mitoses and further characterization by immunohistochemical reactivity to Ki-67. CT-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology of the lung mass showed microscopic features of ameloblastoma bearing resemblance to the primary jaw tumor. Socioeconomic constraints on the patient’s side and limited medical resources necessitated planning that served the purpose of proper diagnosis and treatment options. In this paper, we discuss the clinical behavior, differential diagnosis, and challenges faced by clinicians in managing metastatic ameloblastoma in a resource-limited setting. Conclusively, reporting this rare case and first of its kind in our locality raises awareness, hence reducing misdiagnosis of primary tumor in sites other than the jaw, while also sharing our experience of managing metastasizing ameloblastoma in a resource-limited setting to the larger medical community.