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Case Reports
. 2021 Jan 28;17(1):55.
doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-02759-3.

Differential diagnosis for a mandibular mass - a rare case of an odontoameloblastoma in a red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus)

Svenja Hartung  1 , Kernt Köhler  2 , Christiane Herden  2 , Manfred Henrich  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Differential diagnosis for a mandibular mass - a rare case of an odontoameloblastoma in a red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus)

Svenja Hartung et al. BMC Vet Res. .

Abstract

Background: Mandibular masses caused by inflammatory processes due to bacterial infections, most common with Actinomyces bovis, are well known in herbivors. This case represents a rare differential diagnosis to common inflammatory processes which cannot be distinguished from neoplasia without detailed histopathological examination.

Case presentation: A large unilateral mandibular mass of a free-ranging female adult red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus) was submitted for pathological examination. The animal had been shot due to its poor body condition. Grossly, the mandibular mass showed gingival ulceration and necrosis. Histologically, irregular strands and islands of odontogenic epithelial cells and a matrix of dentin and osteoid-like material were found, leading to the diagnosis of an odontogenic tumor. Considering the animal's age the tumor was classified as odontoameloblastoma with secondary chronic purulent osteomyelitis.

Conclusions: Odontogenic tumors are rare in domestic and wildlife species and so far have not been reported in red deer. In addition to the more common inflammatory processes of the mandibula and other neoplastic diseases of the oral cavity, odontogenic tumors represent a rare differential diagnosis that must be kept in mind especially when masked by inflammatory lesions.

Keywords: Odontoameloblastoma; Odontogenic tumor; Oral cavity; Red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
10 × 10 × 15 cm extensive and ulcerated mass in the right mandible. Ulcer (N), multifocal loss of teeth, and necrosis with plant material and cellular debris (N)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mandibular bone (B) with infiltration by cords and islands of epithelial cells (EC) of odontogenic origin, surrounding islands of dentin (D) and amorphous pale eosinophilic matrix. HE staining, 10 x
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Cords and islands of epithelial cells of odontogenic origin (OE), surrounded by a matrix of odontogenic ectomesenchyme (OM), HE staining, 20x
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Immunohistochemistry for pan-cytokeratin, epithelial cells (EC) stain brown, 20x
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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