Background

This tumor is rare but has an interesting history. For many years, two different tumors, a simple and cellular type, were thought to represent this single tumor. With careful clinical and pathologic examination, it is now clear that the tumor once called simple is now classified as a myxofibroma, a variant of an odontogenic myxoma.

This tumor usually presents as a painless swelling. About 1/3 of cases are associated with the crown of an unerupted tooth. These tumors may displace teeth or resorb the roots of the teeth.

OUTLINE

Epidemiology
Disease Associations
Pathogenesis
Laboratory/Radiologic/ Other Diagnostic Testing
Gross Appearance and Clinical Variants
Histopathological Features and Variants
Special Stains/ Immunohistochemistry/ Electron Microscopy
Differential Diagnosis
Prognosis
Treatment
Commonly Used Terms
Internet Links

EPIDEMIOLOGY	CHARACTERIZATION
INCIDENCE	5% of all odontogenic tumors
AGE RANGE-MEDIAN	4-80 years
SEX (M:F)	Females 69%

 

LABORATORY/ RADIOLOGIC/ OTHER TESTS	CHARACTERIZATION
Radiographs	Distinct border, uni to multilocular 12% with calcifications

 

GROSS APPEARANCE/CLINICAL VARIANTS	CHARACTERIZATION
General	55% in mandible 45% in maxilla 2/3 of maxillary tumors found in the anterior segment
Peripheral Odontogenic fibroma	Tumors arising in extraosseous locations Recurrence rate of 39%

 

HISTOLOGICAL TYPES

CHARACTERIZATION

General

Cellular tumor with minimal ground substance and droplets of calcified matrix representing bone or atubular dentin Small round nests and irregular clusters of epithelial cells Occasional examples of the fibroblasts being replaced by large, round granular cells resembling granular cell tumor Occasional eosinophilic and amorphous globules close to epithelium, which may represent amyloid or ename matrix protein

 

PROGNOSIS AND TREATMENT	CHARACTERIZATION
Metastasis	None Recurrence rate is low
Treatment	Enucleation with vigorous curettage

Sem Diagn Pathol 1999;16:293-296.
Henry JB. Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. Twentieth Edition. WB Saunders. 2001.
Rosai J. Ackerman's Surgical Pathology. Ninth Edition. Mosby 2004.
Sternberg S. Diagnostic Surgical Pathology. Fourth Edition. Lipincott Williams and Wilkins 2004.
Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. Seventh Edition. WB Saunders 2005.
DeMay RM. The Art and Science of Cytopathology. Volume 1 and 2. ASCP Press. 1996.
Weedon D. Weedon's Skin Pathology Second Edition. Churchill Livingstone. 2002
Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 6th Edition. McGraw-Hill. 2003.
Weiss SW and Goldblum JR. Enzinger and Weiss's Soft Tissue Tumors. Fourth Edition. Mosby 2001.

Basic Principles of Disease
Learn the basic disease classifications of cancers, infections, and inflammation

Commonly Used Terms
This is a glossary of terms often found in a pathology report.

Diagnostic Process
Learn how a pathologist makes a diagnosis using a microscope

Surgical Pathology Report
Examine an actual biopsy report to understand what each section means

Special Stains
Understand the tools the pathologist utilizes to aid in the diagnosis

How Accurate is My Report?
Pathologists actively oversee every area of the laboratory to ensure your report is accurate

Got Path?
Recent teaching cases and lectures presented in conferences

Pathologists Who Make A Difference
Search for a Physician Specialist

Last Updated 1/5/2004

Send mail to The Doctor's Doctor with questions or comments about this web site.
Read the Medical Disclaimer.

Copyright © The Doctor's Doctor