title: Osteo-cementum Producing Odontogenic Myxomas. A Literature Review of a Distinctive Variant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Odontogenic myxoma (OM) is a benign neoplasm of mesenchymal origin with growth characteristics, clinical behaviour and radiographic presentation similar to those of ameloblastoma. It is an intraosseous neoplasm characterized by stellate and spindleshaped cells embedded in loose myxoid or mucoid extracellular matrix. Although sometimes bony islands that represent residual trabeculae are found throughout the lesion, the formation of osteocement-like calcified spherules within the tumour is an extremely rare phenomenon.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a very rare case of an OM of the left maxilla exhibiting osteo-cementous metaplasia within the substance of the tumour and beyond the facial skeleton, in the nasopharynx. A review of all four similar cases previously reported in the literature is also presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whether or not this property to produce significant amounts of bone can be associated with a different biological behavior for this specific variant of OM remains to be proved with the study of more similar cases.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, K.A.T General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rallis
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, King's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dais
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kostakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, UK ; Flat 11, Gorse House, Medley Court, EX4 2QJ Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
keywords: Odontogenic myxoma; Ossifying tumours; Osteo-cementum metaplasia