Immunohistochemical observations on a possible ameloblastic fibro-odontoma

An ameloblastic fibro-odontoma which occurred in the mandible of a 3-year-old Japanese boy is reported together with immunohistochemical findings. Histologically, the tumor consisted of an ameloblastic fibroma-like area and some typical complex odontoma-like areas. The epithelial islands in the ameloblastic fibroma-like area showed different developmental stages of the epithelial-connective tissue interface. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that all epithelial components in the ameloblastic fibroma-like area showed expression of CK 8, CKs 13, 16, CK 14, CK 18 and CK 19, and coexpression of these cytokeratins and vimentin. These findings suggest that even the epithelial component without obvious epithelial-mesenchymal induction showed the final cell differentiation of the enamel organ with the potential for epithelial-mesenchymal induction.