Pathology of the desmoplastic ameloblastoma

Desmoplastic ameloblastoma is a rare Variant of ameloblastoma and only 54 c ases have been previously reported in the English literature. We report ten cases of desmoplastic ameloblastoma of the jaw observed between 1972 and 1 998 and discuss the pathogenesis of the tumor. Eight of the ten tumors were located in the anterior region of the jaw. Radiographically, six cases sho wed mixed radiolucent/radiopaque appearance with ill-defined margins and th e other four cases lacked typical findings of ameloblastomas. The tumors we re located mainly in the alveolar region and occupied the tooth-bearing are a, without tooth resorption or impacted teeth. Histologically, the desmopla stic ameloblastomas were characterized by extensive stromal desmoplasia, an d small tumor nests of odontogenic epithelium were scattered in the stroma. Oxytalan fibers stained by potassium monopersulfate-aldehyde fuchsin were demonstrated in the stroma of all desmoplastic ameloblastomas, From these f indings, we presumed that the desmoplastic ameloblastomas might have develo ped in the periodontal membrane.