Ameloblastoma

Diagnosis

Ameloblastoma sometimes causes pain and swelling in the jaw, but often it causes no signs or symptoms. It may be discovered on a routine dental X-ray.

To gather more information about the tumor and make a diagnosis, doctors may recommend tests and procedures such as:

• Imaging tests. Imaging tests, such as X-ray, CT and MRI, help doctors determine the extent of an ameloblastoma.
• Removing a sample of tissue for testing. A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tumor cells for laboratory analysis.

Mayo Clinic pathologists are known for their expertise in analyzing and diagnosing rare tumors. Pathologists examine biopsy samples to determine what types of cells are involved in the tumor and whether the cells are noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Your doctor uses this information to put together a treatment plan that's best for you and the most effective option for treating your tumor.