Surgical Treatment for a Huge Maxillary Ameloblastoma via Le Fort I Osteotomy: A Case Report

Ameloblastomaa are odontogenic benign tumors with epithelial origin, which are characterized by slow, aggressive, and invasive growth. Most ameloblastomas occur in the mandible, and their prevalence in the maxilla is low. A 27-year-old male visited our clinic with a chief complaint of the left side nasal airway obstruction. Three-dimensional computed tomography showed left maxillary sinus filled with a mass. Except for the perforated maxillary left edentulous area, no invaded or destructed bone was noted. The tumor was excised via Le Fort I osteotomy. The main mass was then sent for biopsy and it revealed acanthomatous ameloblastoma. The lesion in the left maxillary sinus reached the ethmoidal sinus through the nasal cavity but did not invade the orbit and skull base. The tumor was accessed through a Le Fort I downfracture in consideration of the growth pattern and range of invasion. The operation site healed without aesthetic appearances and functional impairments. However, further long-term clinical observation is necessary in the future for the recurrence of ameloblastoma. Conservative surgical treatment could be the first choice considering fast recovery after surgery and the patient's life quality.