Pigmented adenomatoid odontogenic tumour

Summary A pigmented adenomatoid odontogenic tumour occurring in the mandible of a 12-year-old Japanese girl is reported. In addition to the characteristic histopathologic features, fine granules and coarse aggregates of melanin pigment were widely distributed in the spindle-shaped epithelial cells between duct-like structures, and dendritic cells containing melanin pigment were also distributed in tumour epithelium. The possible histogenesis of melanin pigment in the epithelial cells of the odontogenic lesions is discussed, although no firm conclusions could be drawn.