Struys et al. Journal of Medical Case Reports 2010, 4:328 http://www.jmedicalcasereports.com/content/4/1/328 Authors’ contributions SJ, PC, SS and VL performed the surgical procedures, collected, analyzed and interpreted the patient data in order to determine the surgical follow-up. ST and LI performed the histological and ultrastructural examination of the PDL and wrote the manuscript. CL and JR revised the manuscript and contributed to the overall discussion. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Received: 22 October 2009 Accepted: 19 October 2010 Published: 19 October 2010 References 1. Berkovitz BK: Periodontal ligament: structural and clinical correlates. Dental Update 2004, 31:46-50, 52, 54. 2. Yamashiro T, Tummers M, Thesleff I: Expression of bone morphogenetic proteins and Msx genes during root formation. J Dental Res 2003, 82:172-176. 3. Heyeraas KJ, Kvinnsland I, Byers MR, Jacobsen EB: Nerve fibers immunoreactive to protein gene product 9.5, calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P, and neuropeptide Y in the dental pulp, periodontal ligament and gingiva in cats. Acta Odontol Scandinavica 1993, 51:207-221. 4. Lambrichts I, Creemers J, Van Steenberghe D: Periodontal neural endings intimately relate to epithelial rests of Malassez in humans. A light and electron microscope study. J Anatomy 1993, 182(Pt 2):153-162. 5. Fujiyama K, Yamashiro T, Fukunaga T, Balam TA, Zheng L, Takano- Yamamoto T: Denervation resulting in dento-alveolar ankylosis associated with decreased Malassez epithelium. J Dental Res 2004, 83:625-629. 6. Talic NF, Evans CA, Daniel JC, Zaki AE: Proliferation of epithelial rests of Malassez during experimental tooth movement. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2003, 123:527-533. 7. Tadokoro O, Maeda T, Heyeraas KJ, Vandevska-Radunovic V, Kozawa Y, Hals Kvinnsland I: Merkel-like cells in Malassez epithelium in the periodontal ligament of cats: an immunohistochemical, confocal-laser scanning and immuno electron-microscopic investigation. J Periodontal Res 2002, 37:456-463. 8. Tadokoro O: Epithelial and PGP9.5-immunoreactive cells of Malassez epithelium in the periodontal ligament of cats: a transmission electron microscopic study. Acta Odontol Scandinavica 2009, 1-5:1502-3850. 9. Cerri PS, Goncalves Jde S, Sasso-Cerri E: Area of rests of Malassez in young and adult rat molars: evidences in the formation of large rests. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2009, 292:285-291. 10. Brunette DM, Heersche JN, Purdon AD, Sodek J, Moe HK, Assuras JN: In- vitro cultural parameters and protein and prostaglandin secretion of epithelial cells derived from porcine rests of Malassez. Arch Oral Biol 1979, 24:199-203. 11. Kale S, Kocadereli I, Atilla P, Asan E: Comparison of the effects of 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol and prostaglandin E2 on orthodontic tooth movement. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2004, 125:607-614. 12. Kjaer I, Nolting D: The human periodontal membrane: focusing on the spatial interrelation between the epithelial layer of Malassez, fibers and innervation. Acta Odontol Scandinavica 2009, 67:134-138. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-4-328 Cite this article as: Struys et al.: Proliferation of epithelial rests of Malassez following auto-transplantation of third molars: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports 2010 4:328. Page 5 of 5 Submit your next manuscript to BioMed Central and take full advantage of: • Convenient online submission • Thorough peer review • No space constraints or color ﬁgure charges • Immediate publication on acceptance • Inclusion in PubMed, CAS, Scopus and Google Scholar • Research which is freely available for redistribution Submit your manuscript at www.biomedcentral.com/submit