Odontogenic myxoma. A clinical and ultrastructural study.

The odontogenic myxoma is an uncommon neoplasm of the jaws that is believed to arise from the primitive, mesenchymal portion of the tooth germ. This study surveys nine cases of odontogenic myxoma of the jaws. Analysis of the clinical material revealed that the myxoma occurred most frequently in the posterior regions of the mandible and will recur if initial therapy is too conservative. The average age of the patients in this series was 26.5 years. Five cases involved females and four involved males. Electron microscope findings revealed that the tumor cells are probably responsible for the secretion of the myxomatous intercellular material of the neoplasm.