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Familial adenomatosis coli is known to be associated with tooth impactions, odontomas, and osteomas. Three cases were examined by panoramic radiography and computed tomography. Computed tomography was especially useful for detecting osteomas in the maxilla and also revealed a wavy cortical thickening in the mandible in one instance. The latter finding has been reported for other bones in the body but not previously for the mandible.

Osteomas of the jaws are well-defined lesions that can present as an isolated finding or as part of a syndrome (e.g., Gardner's syndrome). The etiology of peripheral osteomas is somewhat controversial. Trauma has been implicated by several authors, and osteoma is presented here as a rather striking lesion with well-defined traumatic origins.

One of the most feared complications of neurofibromatosis type I (NF-I) is development of cancer, which is estimated to occur in about 5% of cases. The most common associated malignancy is the neurofibrosarcoma (NFS). HOwever, oral NFS in association with NF-I has rarely been reported. We report two cases of oral NFS arising in patients with NF-I. Both patients died of their tumors. Oral NFS arising in association with NF-I appears to have an extremely poor prognosis, as do these tumors at other sites of the body.

Odontogenic cysts are common pathologic lesions found in the oral and perioral structures. A case of squamous cell carcinoma arising within the lining of a large odontogenic cyst is described. Clinical and pathologic aspects of the previously reported cases are presented.

Ameloblastoma, an odontogenic tumor of ectodermal origin, has been reported to arise, on rare occasions, in a primordial or dentigerous cyst of a young person. Numerous authors have suggested differing nomenclatures for these ameloblastomas (e.g., mural, unicystic, monocystic, intracystic, cystogenic, cystic, plexiform unicystic) and have sought to describe and classify the clinical and histopathologic features. These tumors have been characterized as a distinct variant exhibiting less aggressive behavior and a lower rate of recurrence than conventional ameloblastoma. Furthermore, various etiologic factors have been proposed for these cystic ameloblastomas, including (1) nonspecific irritational factors such as extraction, caries, trauma, infection, inflammation, or tooth eruption; (2) nutritional deficit disorders, and (3) viral infection. The files of the combined accessioned cases of Emory University's and Temple University's oral pathology laboratories were searched and a review of the literature was performed. Thirty-eight cases of mandibular ameloblastoma (37 intraosseous, 1 peripheral) in persons 19-year-old and younger were found from a combined total of 311 accessioned cases of ameloblastoma (12.2%). The average age at diagnosis was 10.4 years for the 18 males and 20 females. Of the 33 cases in which race was stated, 19 (57.6%) were white and 14 (42.4%) were black. In the 28 cases in which a clinical diagnosis was offered, fifteen (53.6%) were thought to be dentigerous cysts. Ten cases from patients less than 19 years old were investigated by means of an immunohistochemical staining technique for the detection of human papilloma virus (HPV) genus-specific structural antigen in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Three of the ten cases (cases 31, 37 and 38) were positive for HPV capsid antigen, whereas none of ten randomly selected ameloblastomas in adults was positive. A discussion of the clinical and histopathologic comparative findings, with emphasis on treatment results and possible HPV etiology, is included. The preliminary nature of finding HPV in the tumor cells is stressed, with recommendation for further verification and typing with the more sensitive in situ hybridization technique.

Two brothers affected by primary hyperparathyroidism, both with unusual jaw lesions, are described here. The atypical growth patterns of these lesions led to their surgical exploration, which revealed that they were histologically similar benign fibro-osseous lesions. The possible influence of long-standing metabolic alterations in hyperparathyroidism in the genesis of fibro-osseous lesions is discussed.

A case of adenosquamous carcinoma of the floor of the mouth and alveolus that occurred following radiation therapy is described. The possible role of radiation in the etiology of this lesion is discussed, and the complex histopathologic features of this neoplasm are emphasized.

A case of an unusually large traumatic bone cyst of previously unreported size and location is presented. The presence of the cyst 5 years before its current discovery was confirmed on previous radiographs. This aggressive traumatic bone cyst adds another dimension to the usual course of this lesion.