Ameloblastoma Resection and Tissue-Engineered Reconstruction: A Case Report and Review of Contemporary Techniques

Ameloblastoma is a benign, but highly aggressive odontogenic tumor prone to local recurrence, making definitive surgical resection the preferred curative treatment. While radical resection yields superior long-term control, it necessitates complex reconstruction to restore both form and function. A 16-year-old male was referred to our academic institution for treatment of a left mandibular ameloblastoma. A surgical resection was planned with the aid of virtual surgical planning (VSP). The patient underwent segmental resection of the left mandibular lesion followed by immediate reconstruction with tissue engineering utilizing custom cutting guides and hardware. The procedure was completed without complication, demonstrating the feasibility and reliability of VSP-guided segmental resection with immediate tissue engineered reconstruction. This case reinforces current literature, which overwhelmingly favors radical resection for long-term disease control and validates the use of advanced surgical techniques, such as VSP and tissue engineering. These techniques can shorten operating room times as well as avoid the morbidity associated with a traditional iliac crest bone graft harvest or fibula free flap reconstruction.