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Ameloblastoma is an odontogenic tumor with aggressive biological behavior, high recurrence rate, and a complex microscopic appearance with many different histologic patterns. Primary ameloblastoma is also described in extragnathic locations. Because of its wide morphologic spectrum, which is mirrored also in cytologic smears, a thorough study of distinctive features is required to reach a reliable diagnosis. Twelve cases of ameloblastoma were examined both cytologically and histologically. The patients were seven women and five men 24-85 years old, mean age being 64 years. Eleven cases were primary tumors of the mandible and maxilla, and one case was a lung tumor metastatic from the tibia. The epithelial element in the cytologic smears of the various cases was morphologically diverse. The basaloid pattern and minimal nuclear atypia were rather constant findings, and the most helpful features toward reaching a cytological diagnosis. However in most cases, careful consideration of the clinical, radiological, cytological, and occasionally immunocytochemical data was required to rule out other entities with similar cytological findings. In some cases, the final diagnosis was only possible by histologic examination. Due to their variable microscopic morphology, ameloblastomas are quite often misdiagnosed for other entities, both benign and malignant. Nevertheless, when one is aware of their distinctive features, an accurate diagnosis can be made by fine-needle aspiration cytology, in conjunction with clinical and radiological findings. Both the preoperative surgical planning and the postoperative follow-up of the patients benefit significantly from this method.

Proliferative myositis (PM) and myositis ossificans (MO) are two uncommon, benign pseudosarcomatous lesions of soft tissue. Despite their benign nature, they are often misdiagnosed for malignant soft tissue tumors because of their alarming clinical presentation. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a quick and simple method that can accurately diagnose such lesions, provided that the cytopathologist is adequately familiar with the cytomorphological features of these lesions as opposed to the features of sarcomas. In this report, we present three cases of PM and one case of MO diagnosed by FNAC. Their cytomorphological features are described, and related literature is reviewed. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2012. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.