Mandibular odontogenic sarcoma (ameloblastic fibrodentinosarcoma) in an aged cat — Short communication

Abstract

A 13-year-old male cat presented with an ill-defined mass in the rostral mandible causing destruction and loss of alveolar bone. Microscopically, the mass consisted of cords or islands of benign odontogenic epithelium and a malignant, pleomorphic spindle-shaped cell component with dysplastic dentine formation. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic mesenchymal cells proved to be strongly positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratins, desmin, actin and S100 protein; the Ki67 proliferation index was high. Morphological and immunohistochemical features largely overlap those reported for ameloblastic fibrodentinosarcoma, an uncommon histologic subtype of odontogenic sarcoma recognised in humans but no reported previously in animals. Ki-67 expression assessment may help to discriminate between malignant and benign forms of odontogenic tumours but the final diagnosis is mainly morphological.