Central odontogenic fibroma, myxoma (odontogenic myxoma, fibromyxoma), and central odontogenic granular cell tumor

Abstract

Although the odontogenic myxoma has remained gical pathologists have confused the dental follicle, a well-recognized tumor over the years, the central odontogenic fibroma (COdF) and central granular cell odontogenic tumor (GCOT) have been at the center of controversy. Some degree of controversy still exists regarding histogenesis, nomenclature, and diagnostic criteria for all three tumors; however, the recent literature more clearly has defined their clinical, radiographic, and histologic parameters. The COdF, odontogenic myxoma, and central GCOT are rare tumors in the overall context of all of the tumors that can occur in the human body. Even within the odontogenic group, these three tumors rank as uncommon to rare. The incidence of odontogenic myxoma among odontogenic tumors has ranged from 3% to 18% [1–7]. The true incidence of odontogenic fibromas is difficult to determine because of the different diagnostic criteria that have been applied to the lesion over the years. Surveys from seven different countries have shown a range from 0% to 14%; however, most of the aforementioned studies have indicated a 4% to 5% incidence for the COdF [1–7]. In the English-language literature, at least 30 examples of central GCOT have been reported. Of special concern to oral and maxillofacial surgeons is that surgical pathologists who are not familiar with odontogenic tumors and the odontogenic apparatus may have difficulty distinguishing these three odontogenic tumors from one another and from normal components of odontogenesis [8,9]. Sur-