Misdiagnosis of ameloblastoma in a patient with clear cell odontogenic carcinoma: a case report

Abstract

Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC), a rare tumor in the head and neck region, displays comparable properties with other tumors clinically and pathologically. In consequence, an incorrect diagnosis may be established. A 51-year-old male patient who was admitted to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Pusan National University Dental Hospital was initially diagnosed with ameloblastoma via incisional biopsy. However, the excised mass of the patient was observed to manifest histopathological characteristics of ameloblastic carcinoma. The lesion was ultimately diagnosed as clear cell odontogenic carcinoma by the Department of Oral Pathology of Pusan National Dental University. Therefore, segmental mandibulectomy and bilateral neck dissection were performed, followed by reconstruction with fibula free flap and reconstruction plate. Concomitant chemotherapy radiotherapy was not necessary. The patient has been followed up, and no recurrence has occurred 6 months after surgery.

A Radiolucency Associated With an Impacted Mandibular Canine Tooth in an Adult Man

“…1 Cases of CCOC are often misdiagnosed and may receive insufficient or inappropriate treatment. 2,3 Diagnosis of CCOC is challenging because its clinical presentation and radiological features are nonspecific. Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma is most often seen in women in the fifth to eighth decades of life.…”

“…Clinicians usually expect to encounter endodontic infection, displacement of adjacent teeth, cyst development, or a benign tumor growth when investigating a radiolucent lesion in association with an impacted tooth, but malignant tumors are rarely reported . Cases of CCOC are often misdiagnosed and may receive insufficient or inappropriate treatment …”

Clear Cell Odontogenic Carcinoma of the Mandible: A Case Report

“…Due to its infrequency, diagnostic criteria, protocols, and prognosis of CCOC are often not fully understood [2,3]. Additionally, CCOC shares comparable clinical and pathological characteristics with other diseases, possibly leading to misdiagnosis [4].…”