What other types of jaw tumors behave similar to Ameloblastoma?

While ameloblastoma is probably the most common benign jaw tumor requiring removal, other types of tumors can develop in the jaws. Some are less aggressive and can grow for years before being detected.

Other jaw tumors include odontogenic myxomas, central giant cell granulomas, ossifying fibromas, keratinizing cystic odontogenic tumors (aka, odontogenic keratocyst) and others. Although these tumors/cysts can grow to be very destructive, the treatment options are not the same for each one. Some can be treated more conservatively while others require radical surgical removal. The recurrence rate is also different for each of these tumors.

Ameloblastomas and odontogenic myxomas require complete surgical removal to include a margin of bone around it. We surgeons call this "resection" and is different from more conservative methods including "curettage" which means to scrape out the lesion and leave the surrounding bone. The problem is that there is no way to know if you have gotten all the tumor out, which is why curettage tends to result in a higher recurrence rate. For central giant cell granulomas, there are a few medical (non-surgical) treatments that have been proposed. But if the central giant cell granuloma recurs, usually it needs to be resected.