Prominent response with helical tomotherapy in recurrent ameloblastic carcinoma of maxillary sinus: A case report

Introduction: Ameloblastoma is a benign but locally aggressive tumor of odontogenic epithelial tissue. Reports of radiotherapy treatment modalities are limited in the literature.Case presentation: A thirty-five year old male presented with complaints of headache radiating to his face for about six months and impaired vision. The patient's Positron Emission Tomography (PET) showed a mass in the left maxillary sinus extending to the nasal cavity and invading the adjacent tissues. An R2 (macroscopic residual tumor) surgical resection performed to debulk the tumor. Due to the recurrence and residual mass, the patient was treated with helical tomotherapy. At 2 months post-radiotherapy, patient's vision returned to normal. PET scan showed a significant reduction in lesion size 12 months post-radiation.Conclusion: In cases of ameloblastic carcinoma with, post-surgical recurrence or patients not suitable for surgical treatment, helical tomotherapy can be an effective treatment option. © 2014 Koca et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.