Odontogenic myxoma of the jaws: a clinical, radiologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study

Abstract

Ten cases of odontogenic myxoma were evaluated radiologically, histologically, and histochemically. Ultrastructural examination was performed in five cases. Stellate cells with branching processes were seen in an abundant acid mucopolysaccharide background. Occasionally macrophages were found in the tumors. In two cases islands of inactive odontogenic epithelium were identified. The ultrastructural features suggest that many lesional cells are very similar to a myofibroblast. With the avidin-biotin complex immunohistochemical technique, the lesions were tested with antibodies to S- 100 protein, neuron-specific enolase, neurofilaments, glial fibrillary acid protein, keratin, desmin, muscle-specific actin, and vimentin. All the lesions were found to be positive for vimentin and muscle-specific actin, and negative for the rest. The results of our study seem to confirm the muscle-specific actin-positivity of odontogenic myxomas as previously reported.