Odontogenic myxoma of the maxilla invading the maxillary sinus.

Dental tumors are lesions that stem from the epithelial and mesenchymal elements which are tooth components. For this very reason, they involve the maxilla and must make up the differential diagnosis of the lesions associated with this structure. The odontogenic myxoma is an uncommon benign neoplasia of slow and infiltrative growth, usually assymptomatic. It may happen at any age; however, it is more common in the second and third decades of life. The mandible is more affected than the maxilla, and the posterior mandible is the region with the highest occurrence. Radiographically speaking, the myxoma is radiolucent, it can present itself as well outlined or diffuse, uni or multilocular and it can shift or cause tooth resorption in the tumor area. The differential diagnosis includes cysts, ameloblastomas, gigantic cell central granulomas, fibroma and fibrous dysplasia. Treatment of choice is surgical resection, and it recurs at a significant rate of about 25%; there are no metastases and prognosis is favorable. Proservation must be strict and patient rehabilitation is paramount, since the treatment itself is mutilating.