Ameloblastoma is a slow-growing and locally invasive epithelial
odontogenic tumor of the
jaw that runs a benign
course in most cases. Granular
cell ameloblastoma is a rare subtype of
ameloblastoma, showing the granular transformation of its
cytoplasm. It is considered as an aggressive variant of
ameloblastoma. Herein, we
report the case of a 34-year-old
male patient who presented with a swelling in the left
cheek for a 1-year duration with a recent rapid increase in size. Examination showed a 4 � 3 cm
growth involving the left
buccal mucosa and retromolar area. Imaging studies showed expansile lytic lesion
mandible.
Biopsy revealed
neoplasm with odontogenic epithelial
islands showing peripheral palisading of tall columnar
cells with reversal of polarity and the center of the
islands showing stellate
reticulum-like
cells which were markedly replaced by granular
cells. Granular
cells can appear in various odontogenic and non-
odontogenic tumors. When there is extensive granular
cell change in
ameloblastoma, it should be differentiated from other oral lesions with granular
cells including granular
cell odontogenic tumor,
granular cell tumor, and
congenital epulis.