A pigmented tumour of infancy: The melanotic progonoma

An electron microscope study of a pigmented tumour of the jaw of infants.

“…On the other hand, though basal cell carcinoma of the epidermis has an intact basal lamina it is highly invasive (discussion following Cawley et al, 1966). All reports agree that the pigmented tumour of infants is clinically benign although bone may be invaded with filling of marrow sinusoids (Clarke and Parsons, 1951;Stowens, 1957).…”

“…These appellations indicate the changing views on the histogenesis of the condition; the literature has been reviewed by Stowens (1957), Lurie (1961), Lucas (1964) and Borello and Gorlin (1966).…”

“…He believes that the origin should be sought in anatomically adjacent parts and the continuity of the tumour tissue with dental epithelium suggests an odontogenic origin. Stowens (1957) is also sceptical about the retinal anlage theory on embryological grounds.…”

Melanotic Neuroectodermal Tumour of Infancy

“…1 Mummery and Pitts in 1926 named the tumour as melanotic epithelial odontome and suggested it to be of odontogenic origin. 7 The tumour was then called as melanotic prognoma by Stowens in 1957, who proposed a phylogenetic theory concerned with displaced neuroectodermal tissue from vestigial organ of Jacobson, 3 and pigmented congenital epulis by Henry and Bodian in 1960. 5 It was Misugi et al 8 in 1956 who first proposed neural tissue to be the source of MNTI, this was later supported by Borello and Gorlin in 1966.…”

“…MNTI was first described in 1918 in the German literature by Krompecher as congenital melanocarcinoma, following which it was described under many headings such as Mmlanotic prognoma, 3 pigmented ameloblastoma, 4 congenital pigmented epulis, 5 retinal anlage tumour 6 and melanotic epithelial odontome, 7 to name some examples. The plethora of names given to it reflects the conflicting opinions regarding its histogenesis.…”