“Ameloblastoma with mucous cells”: Review of literature and presentation of 2 cases

Ameloblastoma, a relatively rare benign odontogenic tumor; originates from the odontogenic epithelium and has been studied extensively for its unique clinicopathologic features. It usually exhibits a range of histopathologic features, such as follicular, plexiform, acanthomatous, granular, basal cell, and desmoplastic variants, which are well recognized. The occurrence of mucous cells in ameloblastoma is an exceptionally rare phenomenon and to date only 4 well established cases have been reported. In the present paper, 2 more cases of ameloblastoma showing evidence of mucous cells are reported, along with a review of pertinent literature. A brief clinicopathologic analysis of all the reported cases, an insight into possible histogenesis of these cells in ameloblastoma, and diagnostic difficulties encountered due to this finding are also discussed. An interesting finding in our review is that all of the the cases of ameloblastoma exhibiting mucous cells occurred in the anterior region of the jaw with a predilection to mandible. Histologically, the mucous cells in most cases were associated with areas of squamous metaplasia, suggesting a close relation between these 2 cell types.