Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Odontogenic tumors (OTs), neoplasms, and other lesions related to the jawbones have for years been recognized as presenting clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic challenges. Benign OTs have been subclassified into three groups in which a universal consensus in categorization of various tumors has been arguable. One such debatable OT is AOT. Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor is a clinically benign lesion with a relative frequency of 2.2 - 7.1% of all OTs. It is predominantly found in young age group, female patients, located more often in the maxilla and in most cases associated with an unerupted permanent tooth. As the histogenesis of AOT is still uncertain, there is considerable confusion regarding the origin and classification of AOT with the most recent WHO classification including AOT as a hamartoma showing metaplastic mineralization. We report a case of an eighteen year old male patient with swelling in the upper left front region of jaw. This case report is aimed to study and discuss the nature of AOT as being an inductive tumor or a hamartoma with metaplastic mineralisation by histochemical and immunohistochemical staining. An attempt has been made to conceptualize the nature and classification of AOT.
Key words: Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor, Hamartoma, Neoplasm