Objective: To investigate the determinant of recurrence in mural ameloblastoma.
Methods: Forty-four cases of mural ameloblastoma were followed up postoperatively for 1 year to 25 years and 4 months (mean of 5.7 years).
Results: 1. The recurrence is more likely to recur in curettage group (8/35) than in radical surgery group (1/9); 2. The recurrence is more in intramural (4/7) and complex (3/4) group more than in intracavity group (0/15) after curettage treatment; 3. Those with honeycomb appearance (3/3) recurred more than those with unilocular appearance (1/20); 4. It recurred mostly within 2 years postoperatively (7 recurrences in 5 cases); 5. Recurrent cases were susceptible to repeated recurrence after recurettage.
Conclusions: 1. The lesion with honeycomb appearance should be treated with radical surgery; 2. The follow-up should be emphasized for those with intramural or complex feature; 3. The curettage cases should be followed routinely for 5 years postoperatively.