Ameloblastoma is a rare neoplasia of tooth root origin and has never been reported in the rabbit. The tumor is locally invasive and locally destructive to bone. Metastasis has not been reported. The histologic criteria to be alerted to are the irregular islands with peripheral palisading columnar cells with polarized nuclei away from the basement membrane, and the stellate reticulum within the central region. Ameloblastoma, with hard substance, lop-eared rabbit, lagomorph.
Odontogenic neoplasms are uncommon.
Teeth develop from two embryonic tissues. The enamel cap is derived from the dental lamina, which is an invagination of squamous epithelium from the lining of the buccal cavity. All other parts of the tooth, including dentin, cementum, and pulp, arise from the embryonic mesenchyme. The dentin induces ameloblasts to form enamel. The invading epithelium continues to proliferate as a solidly cellular mass forming the cap stage.