Comparison of survival outcomes between ameloblastic carcinoma and metastasizing ameloblastoma : a systematic review

• PURPOSE: To investigate and compare the demographic data, occurrence of recurrence and metastasis, and survival prognosis between ameloblastic carcinoma and metastasizing ameloblastoma, based on appropriate and currently accepted eligible diagnostic criteria, in a systematic review of the literature.METHODS: An electronic search was undertaken, last updated in December 2021. Eligibility criteria included publications having enough clinicopathological information to confirm the diagnosis of these tumors.RESULTS: Seventy-seven publications reporting 85 ameloblastic carcinomas and 43 metastasizing ameloblastomas were included. Both tumors were more frequent in mandible and showed different clinical profiles regarding patients' sex and age. There was no difference in the estimated cumulative survival between patients diagnosed with these tumors. Metastases mainly affected the lungs, followed by cervical lymph nodes. The mean time between the first metastasis and the last follow-up was higher for metastasizing ameloblastoma (p=0.021). Additionally, metastasizing ameloblastoma patients remained alive longer than ameloblastic carcinoma patients after the first metastasis diagnosis (p=0.041). Considering only the cases that metastasized, a higher ratio of ameloblastic carcinoma patients died in comparison to metastasizing ameloblastoma patients (p=0.003). The occurrence of recurrence was associated with a conservative primary treatment with both ameloblastic carcinoma (p<0.001) and metastasizing ameloblastoma tumors (p=0.017). Multiple recurrent events were associated with conservative primary therapies with metastasizing ameloblastoma (p<0.001) but not with ameloblastic carcinoma (p=0.121).CONCLUSIONS: In addition to some demographic differences, ameloblastic carcinomas that metastasize present a worse prognosis than metastasizing ameloblastoma. As conservative procedures are associated with multiple recurrent events, this treatment modality should be avoided for both tumors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Ameloblastic carcinoma

clinical features

metastasis

metastasizing ameloblastoma

odontogenic tumors

recurrence

survival

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)