Ameloblastomas are tumors of odontogenic epithelial origin. The term unicystic ameloblastoma is used to describe cystic lesions with clinico-radiographic features resembling an odontogenic cyst, but histologically showing the presence of ameloblastomatous epithelium lining part of the cyst cavity. A large majority of lesions are found in the mandible, and usually cause a painless swelling of th...

Mesenchymal condensation is critical for organogenesis, yet little is known about how this process is controlled. Here we show that Fgf8 and Sema3f, produced by early dental epithelium, respectively, attract and repulse mesenchymal cells, which cause them to pack tightly together during mouse tooth development. Resulting mechanical compaction-induced changes in cell shape induce odontogenic tra...

Calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor (CCOT) is an uncommon benign cystic neoplasm of the jaw that develops from the odontogenic epithelium. It is clinically characterized as a painless—slow-growing tumor that affects the maxilla as well as the mandible, and generally occurs in young adults in the third or fourth decade of life. Herein, we present the case of a 16-year-old Japanese boy who showed...

The histologic hallmark distinguishing desmoplastic ameloblastoma (DA) from conventional ameloblastoma (CA) is its pronounced stromal desmoplasia, and this formed the basis of this investigation. To elucidate the stromal characteristics, localization patterns of oxytalan fibers, type III collagen and BMP family in DA (n=8) was compared with CA (n=24), and periodontal ligament (PL) (n= 8). Oxyta...

An odontogenic myxoma of a maxilla has been examined. Histochemistry of the mucosubstance indicated that hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate were present. On ultrastructural examination many of the cells in the myxomatous tissue were seen with prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting a secretory function, and possibly the myxomatous ground substance was produced by these cells. Ce...

Ameloblastomas are locally aggressive jaw tumors with a high propensity for recurrence that are believed to arise from remnants of odontogenic epithelium, lining of odontogenic cysts and basal layer of overlying oral mucosa. They can occur in either the maxilla or mandible at nearly any age but most frequently are discovered as a painless expansion in the mandible of patients in their 20s-40s. ...

Primordial odontogenic tumor (POT) is a rare characterized by variably cellular loose fibrous tissue with areas similar to the dental papilla and covered cuboidal columnar epithelium. We herein report case of POT in 14-year-old boy. Computed tomography (CT) exhibited round cavity defined cortical border circumscribing tooth second molar. However, gross finding was solid mass, not cyst. Histolog...

Desmoplastic ameloblastoma (DA) is a relatively rare histological variant of ameloblastoma with specific clinical, radiological, and histological features. This tumor is more commonly seen in the anterior region of jaws as a mixed radiopaque-radiolucent lesion resembling benign fibro-osseous lesions. Histologically, DA is characterized by small nests and strands of "compressed" odontogenic epit...

Background and Aim: Odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) and dentigerous cyst (DC) are two common developmental cysts involving the jaws. The role of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP2) and 19 (MMP19) in progression and invasion of some cysts and tumors has been documented. This study sought to assess the expression of MMP2 and MMP19 in OKCs and DCs. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive analyti...