Secondary peripheral ameloblastic carcinoma of the palate: A case report and literature review

Secondary peripheral ameloblastic carcinoma is an odontogenic malignant tumor that arises from benign peripheral ameloblastoma and exhibits cellular atypia. We describe the case of an 82-year-old male referred to our department with a hemorrhagic mass on the right palate that developed 6–7 years earlier. Clinical examination revealed a mass 40 × 30 × 10 mm in size affecting the hard palate that exhibited relatively clear boundaries, granular superficial appearance, and hemorrhaging. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed compressive resorption of the bone surface in contact with the tumor. A biopsy was performed; the histopathological diagnosis of the biopsy was peripheral ameloblastoma without any findings of malignancy. The patient subsequently underwent tumor resection. The resected specimen of peripheral ameloblastoma exhibited malignancy. The histopathological diagnosis was secondary peripheral ameloblastic carcinoma. The recurrence was not confirmed. However, CT imaging performed revealed nodular pulmonary shadows 14 months after surgery. We consulted with the Department of Respiratory Medicine, and a biopsy was planned. However, the biopsy was not performed because the patient was admitted for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. A malignant lesion appeared in the liver 21 months after surgery. The patient developed multiorgan failure during that month and died. A review of seven reported cases demonstrated that our case is typical with regard to clinical course, symptoms, and clinical, imaging, and histopathological findings.