Answer:
Ameloblastomas are rare tumors originating from the dental lamina.
The currently accepted classification separates ameloblastomas into peripheral,
unicystic, solid, or multicystic.
Peripheral ameloblastoma occurs in the mucosa overlying the alveolar processes, although direct bone involvement is not a feature of peripheral ameloblastoma, the underlying bone may show secondary erosion in response to the presence of the tumor. Patients are usually in the fifth decade of life, with a slight male predilection. Peripheral ameloblastomas are managed by excision with a small amount of surrounding tissue.
Unicystic ameloblastoma is essentially a cystic lesion with intraluminal ameloblastic proliferation of the cyst lining. The average age for occurrence is the third decade of life. Often, the unicystic ameloblastoma is associated with an unerupted tooth. Unicystic ameloblastomas are usually cured by enucleation because they appear clinically as cysts. Definitive diagnosis is usually not made until treatment has been performed. When the tumor involves the periphery of the connective wall of the cyst curettage may be considered.
Multicystic or solid ameloblastomas are slow-growing and locally invasive tumor with a high rate of recurrence if not removed adequately but with minimal tendency to metastasize. They occur in the third to fourth decades of life. A basic approach consists of resection with at least 1 and up to 2 cm of surrounding clinically uninvolved cancellous bone. When the tumor extends into the soft tissue, frozen sections are necessary. Most importantly, follow up for at least 10 years is recommended.
Carotid body tumors are rare neoplasms arising from the small chemoreceptor
organ in the adventitia of the common carotid bifurcation. The predominant
cells of this organ are neuroectodermal in origin and contain membrane-bound
dense core vesicles storing catecholamines. The carotid body tumor
usually is initially seen as a gradually enlarging, asymptomatic neck mass
that is incidentallly identified on physical examination. Carotid body
tumors usually are benign. The typical sonographic features that are virtually
pathognomic for carotid body tumors are a highly vascularized, well-delineated
mass spreading the carotid bifurcation. Arteriography is also mandatory
to embolize these hypervascular masses. Surgery is performed in the subadventitial
plane although sacrifice of the vessel is sometime necessary.