A study of lectin histochemistry in ameloblastoma.

The lectin histochemistry of ameloblastoma was investigated in order to understand the nature of the carbohydrate residues in this tumor, in accordance with the WHO subclassification. Mannose and glucose were generally common in almost all cells in both the follicular and plexiform types, especially stellate cells and cystic lesions of the follicular type. N- acetylglucosamine (GlcNac), N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) and galactose were much more abundant in stellate cells of the plexiform type than in those of the follicular type. Thus, there is a slight difference in lectin histochemistry of the stellate cells between the follicular and plexiform types of ameloblastoma.