Peripheral odontogenic tumors

Abstract

Peripheral odontogenic tumors, also referred to as Peripheral ameloblastoma extraosseous or soft tissue odontogenic tumors, manifest the histopathologic characteristics of their central or intraosseous counterparts but arise in the soft tissues of the maxilla or mandible, usually in gingival tooth-bearing areas. Peripheral odontogenic lesions are considered rare within the odontogenic tumors classification. Clinical differential diagnosis of these lesions infrequently includes a peripheral odontogenic tumor, but usually favors gingival fibroma, pyogenic granuloma, peripheral giant cell granuloma, or other reactive hyperplasia. For the most part, it is not until the tumor has been excised and examined histologically that the true nature of the lesion is known. Many odontogenic tumors have been reported in the soft tissues, including ameloblastoma, adenomatoid odontogenic tumor, calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor, odontogenic fibroma, squamous odontogenic tumor, odontogenic myxoma odontoma, and epithelial odontogenic ghost cell tumor. The most commonly reported peripheral odontogenic tumor is the ameloblastoma. The paucity of reports in the literature on tumors, other than peripheral ameloblastoma, makes it difficult to state with certainty the biologic behavior of these lesions; therefore, one only can suggest the most common clinical features. The following is a summary of the most pertinent information on the clinical and histopathologic features of peripheral odontogenic tumors.