Hemangiomatous ameloblastoma; A separate entity?"

Area of Science:

• Oral Pathology
• Oncology
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Ameloblastomas (AM) are locally aggressive odontogenic tumors.
• Hemangiomatous ameloblastoma (HA) is a rare subtype with prominent vascular proliferation.
• Vascularity in HA typically occurs in the stroma, but epithelial involvement is occasionally observed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a unique case of unicystic hemangiomatous ameloblastoma with epithelial vascularity.
• To review existing literature on HA, focusing on clinical and histopathological features.
• To explore potential pathogenetic mechanisms for vascular proliferation within the epithelial component of HA.

Main Methods:

• Histopathological examination of a unicystic HA case.
• Immunohistochemical analysis, including GLUT1 staining.
• Systematic literature review of 31 reported HA cases.

Main Results:

• The case presented as a recurrent mandibular swelling in a 32-year-old male.
• Histopathology revealed unicystic HA with vascularity in both stromal and epithelial components.
• GLUT1 positivity was observed in the epithelial islands, suggesting aberrant angiogenesis or vascular mimicry.
• Literature review confirmed male predilection and mandibular dominance in HA.

Conclusions:

• Hemangiomatous ameloblastoma exhibits diverse vascular patterns, including rare epithelial involvement.
• GLUT1 positivity in epithelial islands warrants further investigation into HA pathogenesis.
• Understanding HA's unique vascular mechanisms is crucial for clinical management and future research.