Only one per cent of all jaw tumours are ameloblastomas, and they are benign tumours which involve excess tissue growth in and around the jaw which can appear to be solid or cyst-like.
It is common for the tumour to develop around the position of the wisdom tooth with most occurring in the lower jaw bone. Ameloblastomas grow slowly and are non-cancerous, but occasionally they can affect tissues surrounding the jaw area, including sinuses and eye sockets. They can also cause bone destruction and some facial distortion.
Ameloblastomas affect men and women equally and can affect any ethnic group or age group, although it is most common in those around 30 to 40 years of age. It is relatively uncommon in children under the age of 10.
The most effective treatment for ameloblastomas is the surgical removal of the tumour using what is called wide surgical margins. In this instance, healthy tissue is removed alongside the tumour to ensure that all tumour cells are removed in order to reduce the risk of the tumour returning.
On rare occasions, surgeons may need to remove part of the lower jaw.
Patients will then undergo surgical reconstruction, with either a metal implant or an autograft. An autograft is a graft which uses bone taken from elsewhere in the body to reconstruct the jaw after tumour removal surgery.
Hannah Birkett, research and information officer from Bone Cancer Research Trust, said: “Without the expert input of researchers such as Bing Hu it would be difficult to provide accurate and meaningful information to patients and members of the general public about the various bone cancers, so we are grateful to him and his fellow scientists for their support. While instances of ameloblastoma are rare, its consequences can be distressing and unpleasant which is why it is vital for those affected by it to have access to the best information available.”
Bing Hu added: “It was a pleasure to support my colleagues at Bone Cancer Research Trust. Their support for and funding of research into bone cancers is immensely valuable and helps scientists like me to better understand these cancers and, in so doing, find new effective treatments for those affected by them.”
An interview with Bing Hu by Bone Cancer Research Trust is available here at www.bcrt.org.uk/news/2016/october/ameloblastoma-researcher.
More information about ameloblastomas is available at www.bcrt.org.uk/information/information-by-type/ameloblastoma/