Are ameloblastomas cancerous?

Are ameloblastomas cancerous?

Ameloblastomas can become cancerous or malignant, but malignant ameloblastomas are extremely rare. Healthcare providers identify malignant ameloblastomas through a process called histology. When providers talk about a tumor’s histology, they’re talking about what they learned after using a microscope to examine its tissue and bone cells. Providers look for differences between normal and abnormal cells. There are two types of malignant ameloblastomas:

• Metastasizing ameloblastomas. These tumors appear benign but spread from your jaw to other areas of your body including your lungs, your brain and your skin.
• Ameloblastic carcinoma. These tumors appear cancerous. Sometimes benign ameloblastomas can become cancerous.