Ploidy status of odontogenic tumors with epithelial components.

Objective: To evaluate the DNA ploidy status of different histologic types of odontogenic tumors (OTs) with epithelial components.

Study design: Biopsy materials of cases that were diagnosed as ameloblastoma or OT with epithelial component were retrieved from archives. Routine hematoxylin-eosin sections were prepared from paraffin-embedded tumor materials. A monolayer cell suspension was prepared from tumor cells that were enzymatically and mechanically isolated from biopsy material. DNA content of the nuclei was assessed on Feulgen-stained monolayer cell preparations with automated image cytometry. Ploidy assessments were done according to DNA indices.

Results: Sixty cases of OT were evaluated. All cases had epithelial components. There were 30 pure ameloblastomas and 30 other OTs with epithelial components. All cases were diploid in DNA assessment.

Conclusion: The current study showed that ameloblastomas and other OTs with ameloblastic epithelial components are diploid. To the best of our knowledge, this was the largest study to evaluate the DNA ploidy status of OTs.