Intracellular collagen in recurrent ameloblastic fibroma

Electron microscopic examination of tissue from a twice recurrent ameloblastic fibroma revealed the presence of intracellular collagen fibres in fibroblasts active in protein synthesis. The intracellular fibres were morphologically identical to collagen fibres located extracellularly. The literature on intracellular collagen in biological systems and pathological states has been reviewed, and attention is focussed on collagen phagocytosis and degradation by fibroblasts which are currently considered to represent the basis of connective tissue remodelling and turnover.