Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor. A case report

The adenomatoid odontogenic tumor is a benign bony lesion of the maxilla and mandible, it represents 3% of all odontogenic tumors, and is more frequent in females in their second decade of life. It affects mainly the maxilla associated with embedded teeth, often canines, but it also occurs in the mandible, especially in the anterior region. It originates from epithelial cells of the dental lamina complex system, but the histologic feature with gland-like structures explains its name and classification. Clinically silent, it is often discovered during radiological examinations as a well defined unilocular radiolucent image. The definitive diagnosis is obtained by histological examinations, which allow the differential diagnosis from other bony lesions. Treatment must include close examinations, such as axial and coronal CT scanning and eventually 3D reconstruction. Histological examination with a preoperative biopsy suggests a conservative surgical treatment consisting of a simple enucleation for the low incidence of recurrence. A clinical case is presented with peculiar features different from that reported in letterature.