Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

What is a typical feature of an ameloblastoma seen on radiographs?

1. Unilocular radiolucency

2. Multilocular radiolucency

3. Mixed radiopaque and radiolucent areas

4. Hyperdense areas

The correct answer is: Multilocular radiolucency

Ameloblastoma typically presents as a multilocular radiolucency on radiographs, often described as having a "soap bubble" or "honeycombed" appearance. This characteristic appearance is due to the nature of the tumor, which arises from the epithelial tissue associated with the forming enamel of teeth. The multilocular feature indicates the presence of multiple spaces within the lesion, as the tumor has a tendency to grow in a more invasive manner, affecting the surrounding bone structure and creating these characteristic compartments. The multilocular aspect in radiographs is crucial for diagnosis, as it helps differentiate ameloblastoma from other less aggressive lesions. Other types of lesions might appear as unilocular radiolucencies or present mixed features, but the multilocular presentation is a distinctive marker for ameloblastoma that practitioners recognize during imaging evaluation. The other options, such as unilocular radiolucency, mixed radiopaque and radiolucent areas, and hyperdense areas, do not accurately reflect the usual radiographic appearance of ameloblastomas, further reinforcing that the multilocular radiolucency is a classic and significant indicator of this particular type of odontogenic tumor.