INTRODUCTION
The adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT) is usually an asymptomatic slow growth lesion. When grown, one can palpate a hard and large lesion. It is common for the tumor to cause shifting of neighboring teeth because tumor expansion is more common than teeth root resorption. Radiographically, there is a unilocular mass involving an unerupted tooth, sometimes opaque in the center and sclerotic in the periphery. Considering it to be an encapsulated tumor, treatment of choice is enucleation1. This paper describes three cases of these tumors and their symptoms, their radiographic characteristics and anatomic findings.
REPORT OF CASES
Cases 1 and 2
Both occurred on the second decade of life, the first in a girl and the second in a boy. The tumors evolved for about one year, they were asymptomatic and presented a hard and large mass in the paranasal region, obliterating the nasolabial groove and obstructing the nostril. Radiographic exams revealed an extensive unilocular image involving the maxillary sinus and the nasal cavity of the affected side (Figure 1). Treatment of choice was tumor enucleation under general anesthesia. The patients were followed up for one year after surgery, when there was bone regeneration.
Figure 1.
Radiographic aspects of cases 1, 2 and 3.
Case 3
This case refers to a 28 year-old patient, who had a tumor in the anterior portion of her mandible that had been growing for approximately 2 years (Figure 1). The tumor was also resected under general anesthesia and followed for one year.
DISCUSSION
AOTs present a relative frequency of 2.2 to 7.1% among odontogenic tumors2. This type of tumor affects women more frequently (1.9:1) on their second decades of life. 2,3.
The maxilla location of this tumor is two fold more frequently than that in the mandible4, 5, 6. Progressive nasal obstruction is a common finding in lesions larger than 5.0cm located in the maxilla5.
AOTs have three variants (follicular, extra-follicular and peripheric), which make it very difficult to differentiate from other diseases (2). Differential diagnosis depends on the radiographic result, which may show a radiolucent area with or without radioopaqueness5. It is indispensable to make and incisional biopsy of the lesion for surgical planning purposes, as well as aspirating it before any procedure with radiolucent masses because they usually have a vascular origin.
Footnotes
Paper submitted to the ABORL-CCF SGP (Management Publications System) on September 11th, 2006 and accepted for publication on August 9th, 2006. cod. 2705.
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