UNICYSTIC AMELOBLASTOMA: A DIAGNOSTIC CONUNDRUM FOR PATHOLOGISTS

Unicystic ameloblastoma is a rare variant of ameloblastoma, which usually occurs in younger age groups on comparison with conventional ameloblastoma. The aggressiveness of the tumour is reported to be related to the various histological subtypes, the most aggressive being those with luminal, intraluminal and mural proliferation. This variant of the tumour has to be treated usually with radicular resection similar to conventional ameloblastoma due to its clinical course and higher recurrence rate. The diagnosis of the tumour is usually problematic as it shares clinical and radiological features similar to other lesions. In addition to this, confirmatory diagnosis using incisional biopsy is difficult in many cases as the cystic nature of the tumour may not revealed. Here we report a case of unicystic ameloblastoma showing luminal, intraluminal and mural proliferation that was initially diagnosed as follicular ameloblastoma.