Mixed odontogenic tumors: A review of the clinicopathological and molecular features and changes in the WHO classification

A rare case report of ameloblastic fibrodentinoma with imaging features in a pediatric patient

Ameloblastic fibrodentinoma (AFD) is a rare benign odontogenic tumor that resembles an ameloblastic fibroma with dysplastic dentin. This report presents a rare case of mandibular AFD with imaging features in a young patient. Panoramic radiography and computed tomography revealed a well-defined lesion with internal septa and calcified foci, causing inferior displacement of the adjacent molars as well as buccolingual cortical thinning and expansion of the posterior mandible. The lesion was surgically removed via mass excision, and the involved tooth was extracted under general anesthesia. During the 5-year follow-up period, no evidence of recurrence was observed. Radiologic features of AFD typically reveal a moderately to well-defined mixed lesion with varying degrees of radiopacity, reflecting the extent of dentin formation. Radiologists should consider AFD in the differential diagnosis when encountering a multilocular lesion with little dense radiopacity, particularly if it is associated with delayed eruption, impaction, or absence of involved teeth, on radiographic images of young patients.

Connexin 43 expression in tooth germ and benign odontogenic tumors

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the immunohistochemical expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in tooth germs (TGs), ameloblastic fibromas (AFs), ameloblastic fibro-odontomas (AFOs), and conventional ameloblastomas (AMs).

STUDY DESIGN

Nine TGs, 12 AFs, 12 AFOs, and 27 AMs were evaluated for Cx43 expression by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Most of the TGs expressed Cx43 in the mesenchyme (77.6%) and in the late stages of odontogenesis. Cx43 was more highly expressed (P < .05) in the mesenchymal layer of all groups than in the epithelial layer except for the AFOs. When comparing the expression of Cx43 in the different layers of the analyzed groups, statistically significant differences were observed between AFO vs AM (*P = .0158) in the epithelial layer and between AF vs AFO (P** = .0046) in the mesenchymal layer.

CONCLUSIONS

The results obtained in this study showed that Cx43 is a protein with important expression in the mesenchymal layer of the embryonic and odontogenic tissues studied. It could be speculated that Cx43 participates in mineralization events based on the relationship of the expression of this protein between the epithelial and mesenchymal layers of odontogenic tissues.

Mystery Behind a Broken, Discolored Right Maxillary Central Incisor: A Case Report

Odontoma is a hamartomatous benign odontogenic tumor that may resemble tooth-like structures. Odontomas can impede the eruption of the permanent underlying tooth or can cause devitalization of the tooth resulting in pain and swelling near the tooth, causing diagnostic dilemmas to the dentist. We describe a case of an unusual occurrence of such an odontoma in a 31-year-old male patient in the periapical region of a broken, discolored maxillary central incisor tooth causing a diagnostic dilemma and its treatment.