Some current concepts on the pathology of ameloblastomas

This article describes some fundamental concepts and new developments in the pathologic characteristics of ameloblastoma. The former include (1) the necessity of separating ameloblastomas into three clinical types, namely the solid or multicystic (the classic intraosseous ameloblastoma), the unicystic, and peripheral varieties; (2) the importance of the tumor's location in the jaws; and (3) the manner in which cancellous and compact bone of the jaws affect the spread of ameloblastomas. New developments discussed include the desmoplastic ameloblastoma, the clear cell ameloblastoma, the recognition of the so-called acanthomatous epulis in dogs as a fairly common spontaneous animal model of ameloblastoma, and some work concerning therapeutic irradiation of ameloblastomas. Additional topics include the problems involved in the early microscopic diagnosis of ameloblastoma and of ameloblastic carcinoma and our lack of knowledge concerning the cause of ameloblastomas.