PERIPHERAL AMELOBLASTOMA OF THE BUCCAL MUCOSA : WITH A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

A peripheral ameloblastoma arising on the buccal mucosa is exceedingly rare. Only three document cases have been reported, and we present one additional case of this tumor. In this case, the lesion repeatedly occurred in the same location in spite of twice local excisions. The first lesion was diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma with ameloblastomatous features. The pathological findings of the lesion were palisading of the peripheral cells of epithelial masses and structures resembling stellate reticulum, which could also be observed also in peripheral ameloblastomas. The second lesion was diagnosed as basal cell adenoma, and the third as peripheral ameloblastoma. The histogenesis of peripheral ameloblastomas and intraoral basal cell carcinomas are discussed, especially with reference to the lesions of the buccal mucosa