Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor: What is the true nature?

The Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT) is one of the most controversial benign odontogenic tumor, which has been known to the pathologists for the past 100 years. Since then the history, histogenesis and histopathologic designation of AOT remains a matter of debate. Some authors consider it as a true benign neoplasm while others consider it as a hamartoma and still others as an odontogenic cyst. Here we propose that the AOT should not be considered as a cyst because its true cystic nature remains questionable. We hypothesize that when the AOT arises from a change in REE covering of the impacted tooth, then it appears as cystic in nature & certainly not a true cyst by origin. Further studies on the histogenesis are required to change the nomenclature of AOT to adenomatoid odontogenic cyst (AOC).