Ameloblastoma with mucous cell differentiation

The finding of pale or clear cells in ameloblastomas is an exceptionally rare--but not unreported--phenomenon. The diagnostic implications of the presence of such cells in ameloblastomas are several and relate mainly to the question of histopathologic differential diagnosis. Although mucous cells in ameloblastomas are an accepted phenomenon, their occurrence has been reported only infrequently. This report describes a case of ameloblastoma exhibiting histopathologic evidence of focal mucous cell differentiation. Issues relating to the differential diagnosis of this lesion are discussed.