Two cases of either peripheral odontogenic fibroma (POF) (WHO type) or peripheral ameloblastoma are reported. Their immunohistochemical characteristics were investigated in an attempt to clarify their histogenesis. The results showed that the epithelial component of this neoplasm tended to retain its distinct odontogenic character and expressed a keratin profile different from that of the overlying oral epithelium from which both cases most probably originated. The connective tissue element of these tumors was vimentin-positive and S-100 protein negative, confirming their mesodermal nature but precluding the possibility of ectomesenchymal derivation. No reactivity for desmin was noted.
Granular cell ameloblastoma (GCA) is a well recognized variant of follicular ameloblastoma with extensive granular cell change. In contrast, plexiform granular cell odontogenic tumor (PGCOT) is a rare and recently described lesion characterized histologically by a monophasic plexiform pattern of granular cells. In this paper, two cases of an unusual granular cell odontogenic tumor exhibiting combined features of these two entities are described along with their immunohistochemical characteristics. The granular cells of both the GCA and PGCOT areas showed similar patterns of expression for keratin and S-100, which differed from those of typical ameloblastoma. No reactivity for desmin or vimentin was noted. The histomorphologic and immunohistochemical features of these hybrid tumors suggest that the granular cells present have a common origin, most probably the odontogenic epithelium.