Melanin in a dentigerous cyst and associated adenomatoid odontogenic tumor

The authors report on a case of dentigerous cyst associated with odontogenic adenomatoid tumor in an 8-year-old black Nigerian boy. Both the cyst and the tumor contained melanocytes and melanin-laden epithelial cells. To their knowledge this is the first reported case of melanotic follicular cyst and adenomatoid tumor. A review of the literature revealed that melanin is rarely found in odontogenic lesions. Since the neural crest influence on the development of odontogenic tissues is well established, the occurrence of melanocytes in these tissues is not surprising. A racial predisposition may be present; black patients predominated in the 15 reported cases of melanotic odontogenic lesions.