Peripheral Ameloblastoma – Controversies and Recent Concepts about Origin & Behaviour
The peripheral ameloblastoma is a soft tissue variant of the more common intraosseous ameloblastoma. The precise nature of peripheral ameloblastoma (PA) continues to be controversial (neoplastic vs hamartomatous). Some authors believe that peripheral ameloblastoma is an innocuous lesion of hamartomatous nature without actual infiltration into the underlying bone. However over the years, rare malignant varieties of peripheral ameloblastomas have been documented. Also the etiology of peripheral ameloblastoma is unclear.  It is believed to arise directly from the overlying epithelium or from the remnants of the dental lamina located in the extraosseous soft tissue. This article attempts to review the features of peripheral ameloblastoma along with  the controversies and recent concepts regarding its origin and behavior.