Abstract
This article attempts to clarify the nature of the so-called hybrid odontogenic tumors including pure epithelial tumors with dentinoid induction which caused dilemma in histologic diagnosis. Most of them do not appear in the standard World Health Organization (WHO) classification of odontogenic tumors. The limitations in our current understanding of hybrid tumors principally depend on the fact that they occur sporadically and are rare. In our view, with the few exceptions, these ambiguous tumors should not generally be considered true hybrids; rather they should be identified simply as anomalous histodifferention and/ or morphodifferentiation process. To date, there is no evidence to suggest that such a unique combination has any bearing on the logical WHO classification. Recognition of hybrid odontogenic tumors is probably of academic and research interest only for oral pathologists.
