Head and Neck Imaging

Odontogenic tumour

neoplasm arising from the tissues of the odontogenic apparatus. These tumours are derived from ectodermal tissue (epithelial tumours) or from mesodermal tissue (connective tissue tumours), or are composed of both components (mixed or composite odontogenic tumours).

Tumours of ectodermal origin

  • ameloblastoma

  • adenomatoid odontogenic tumour: developmental overgrowth of odontogenic tissue, not really a neoplasm but rather a hamartoma. On radiography, it usually appears as a well defined unilocular radiolucent lesion, associated with an unerupted tooth.

  • calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumour or Pindborg tumour

    Tumours of mesodermal origin

    - odontogenic myxoma: a locally aggressive tumour, only occurring in the jaws. It is commonly associated with an unerupted or congenitally missing tooth. If untreated, the tumour may become quite large. It shows a high recurrence rate after resection. Radiographically, the tumour appears as a multilocular lucency, often with honeycombing (bone trabeculae crossing the lesion). The differential diagnosis includes ameloblastoma, aneurysmal bone cyst, haemangioma head and neck and giant cell granuloma.

    Mixed tumours

  • odontoma

  • cementoma

  • cementoblastoma

  • ameloblastic fibroma: benign tumour; the radiographic image of this tumour resembles ameloblastoma.

    RH