RESUMO Apesar de ser um tumor benigno da região maxilofacial, alguns casos de ameloblastoma podem ser categorizados como ameloblastoma maligno (ou metastizante) quando ocorrem metástases. O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar um caso raro de metástase pulmonar de ameloblastoma mandibular, a fim de revisar seu risco e analisar os principais sítios anatômicos que podem ocorrer com esta doença. Descreve-se o caso de uma mulher de 48 anos. Ela apresentou um ameloblastoma pulmonar metastático 7 anos após a remoção de um ameloblastoma mandibular. Durante os exames de rotina foi observado tumor no pulmão esquerdo. Assintomático, próximo ao mediastino, medindo 7x5,5 cm. A biópsia transtorácica com agulha revelou ameloblastoma com as mesmas características histológicas do tumor primário. Após radioterapia, o paciente apresentou regressão do tumor. O paciente está em acompanhamento há 5 anos e não há presença de tumor. O ameloblastoma é um tumor agressivo não só na região de origem, mas também em regiões distantes, principalmente nos casos de recorrência. As metástases podem causar altas taxas de morbidade, fato que requer tratamento precoce.

ABSTRACT Despite being a benign tumor of the maxillofacial region, some cases of ameloblastoma can be categorized as malignant ameloblastoma (or metastasizing) when metastases occur. The aim of this study is to report a rare case of lung metastasis from mandibular ameloblastoma, in order to review its risk and analyze the main anatomic sites that can occur with this disease. The case of a 48-year-old woman is described. She presented a metastatic pulmonary ameloblastoma 7 years after the removal of a mandibular ameloblastoma. During routine exams, a tumor in the left lung was observed. It was asymptomatic, near to the mediastinum, measured 7x5.5 cm. Transthoracic needle biopsy revealed ameloblastoma with the same histological characteristics of the primary tumor. After radiotherapy, the patient presented regression of the tumor. The patient has been under follow-up for 5 years and there is no presence of tumor. Ameloblastoma is an aggressive tumor not only in the region of origin, but also in distant regions, mainly in cases of recurrence. Metastases can cause high rates of morbidity, a fact that requires early treatment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the benefit of using carriers such as the biopolymer gel (hidrogel of polysaccharide of sugarcane molasses) associated with the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP's) in the repair of critical bone defects in calvaria of Wistar rats. METHODS: Forty-two rats were submitted to a surgical calvaria bone defects. These animals were divided into two experimental groups, positive control group and negative control group. The Group I the calvaria defect was filled up with biopolymer gel, biological membrane, BMP and lyophilized graft. The Group II was treated with biopolymer gel, BMP and lyophilized graft. And the group III (positive control group) was treated with BMP, lyophilized graft and biological membrane. In the negative control group (Group IV) a defect was made in the rat calvaria and the animals were sacrificed immediately after the surgery. The animals of experimental groups and positive control group were slaughtered after subsequent periods of 90 and 180 days. In these periods, the histological analysis and image assessment by cone bean tomographic imaging were obtained. RESULTS: There was highest bone tissue formation with statistically significant results in the groups that associated biopolymer gel and membrane (Group I), followed by the group III (BMP, lyophilized graft and biological membrane). The lower bone formation occurred in the group not using the sugarcane biopolymer gel (Group II). The radiolucent areas of the analyzes of 180 days among the groups studied were respectively, 14.98 mm², 26.65 mm² and 35.81 mm². CONCLUSION: The biopolymer gel showed to be an excellent bone morphogenetic protein carrier, probably by facilitating the controlled release of these proteins in the process of bone repair.