MELANOTIC NEUROECTODERMAL TUMOR OF INFANCY ARISING IN THE MAXILLA

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumour of infancy is an uncommon neoplasm th at usually occurs in children aged one year or less. Difficulty in dec iding the cellular origin of this tumour has led to numerous names, in cluding congenital melanocarcinoma, melanotic epithelial odontoma, mel anotic ameloblastoma, and retinal anlage tumour. Electron microscopy a nd histochemical studies, however, have now established the neural cre st origin. The most frequent site of occurrence is the maxilla followe d by the skull, the brain and the mandible. The genital organs are the most frequent extracranial site. We present two cases of melanotic ne uroectodermal tumour of infancy arising in the maxilla.