A case of ameloblastoma with extensive pulmonary metastasis survived for 14 years without treatment of the lung

Although ameloblastoma is generally considered to be a benign tumor, local recurrences have often been noted. On the other hand, however, lung metastasis is quite rare. Here, we present a case of a patient who had ameloblastoma in the mandible with metastases in a lung and several recurrences. The patient was a 24-year-old man who was treated, but developed lung metastasis 1 year later. Once it had metastasized, recurrences occurred twice. Histologically, both the primary tumor and lung metastasizing tumor were benign. The patient died 27 years after the initial treatment and 14 years after detection of pulmonary metastasis. To our knowledge, this patient was the longest-survival case in Asia for such conditions.