Review of six cases of maxillary ameloblastoma from the West Indies: re-entry cryosurgery as prophylactic surgical intervention.

Maxillary ameloblastoma is a rare histopathological entity. A total of six cases of histologically confirmed maxillary ameloblastoma from the West Indies is reviewed. Three of the cases were taken from a total of 47 histologically confirmed ameloblastoma over a 15-year period (1980-1995) from two major maxillofacial units in Jamaica. Two other cases were from documentation in Jamaica between 2000 and 2002, one of which occurred in a 13-year-old girl (these two patients have been followed-up periodically to 2006). The sixth case was from the records of the maxillofacial department of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago. This last patient, at a recent review, has inoperable recurrence. These cases were reviewed with respect to demographics (patient's age and gender), location and extent of tumour, radiological features, concurrent involvement of the mandible, treatment with special emphasis on current treatment modality and follow-up. The findings do not differ from what has been documented by other authors from other parts of the world. Because of the radiographic anatomy of the maxilla, recurrence may be detected late despite such occurring earlier following initial surgical management. It is for this reason that we suggest re-entry cryosurgery for prevention of recurrence for maxillary ameloblastoma. The only case of maxillary ameloblastoma that had re-entry cryosurgery continues to benefit from absence of recurrence at periodic follow-ups at four years post-primary surgical management (which was enucleation).