Adenomatoid odontogenic tumour - an unusual extrafollicular variant of the posterior mandible.

ABSTRACT

Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT) is a relatively uncommon distinct odontogenic neoplasm. Although this lesion was formerly considered to be the variant of ameloblastoma, its clinical features and biologic behavior indicate, that it is a separate entity. It is a tumor of odontogenic epithelium with duct like structures and with varying degrees of inductive change in the stroma. It is a benign and slow growing tumor which is usually located in the anterior region of the maxilla without pain, and represents 3% of all odontogenic tumors. Most adenomatoid odontogenic tumors (AOTs) occur intra-osseously. They surround the crowns and are attached to the necks of unerrupted teeth in a true follicular relationship, whereas the extrafollicular type has no relation with an impacted tooth, and the peripheral variant is attached to the gingival structures. The aim of this paper is to present a rare case of an extrafollicular AOT occurring in the posterior aspect of the mandible which is distinct