Ameloblastoma of the mandible is an extremely rare neoplasm. It is usually treated with radical surgery, including marginal resection, segmental resection, and hemimandibulectomy, because of its frequent recurrence. Even when the primary site is well controlled, patients complain of severe dysfunction of swallowing and speech after radical treatment.
We treated a 50-year-old female with ameloblastoma of the mandible conservatively. The tumor was enucleated and curetted. The postoperative cavity was left open and has gradually become smaller. Although the tumor recurred, it was curetted several times in the outpatient clinic and has been well controlled. Regrowth of the mandible occurred and the patient can live as normal a life as before surgery without any disability.
Conservative therapy with enucleation and curettage is effective for patients with ameloblastoma of the mandible, and good quality of life can be achieved. However, we must follow patients for a long time and control local recurrences.