Extrafollicular Adenomatoid Odontogenic Tumor in the Maxilla: A Case Report Highlighting the Hamartoma versus Neoplasm Debate

The pathologies that arise from the odontogenic apparatus may be categorized into infections, cystic lesions, neoplasms, and even developmental/hamartomatous lesions. The nature of a hamartoma is characterized by slow growth potential, microscopic appearance of unencapsulated mature cells, and it is associated with chromosomal aberrations. Whereas the neoplasm signifies an abnormal and uncontrolled proliferation of cells that originate from a single cells or a clone. Many odontogenic lesions are still under controversy of being classified as hamartomatous lesions because of their biological behavior and limited growth potential. This report presents the case of an 18-year-old female with an asymptomatic intraoral swelling over the left maxillary anterior region; radiographs reveal a unilocular radiolucency associated with the roots of the left maxillary lateral incisor and canine. Histologically, the lesion was consistent with the diagnosis of adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT; extrafollicular type). AOT is a rare benign odontogenic tumor; it shows characteristics of both hamartoma and true neoplasm. This case report emphasizes its clinical presentation as well as its categorization among hamartomatous and true neoplastic odontogenic lesions.