Clear cell variant of calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor: case report and review of the literature.

The calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT) is a rare benign odontogenic neoplasm which was first described by Pindborg in 1955 and accounts for less than 1% of all odontogenic lesions. Recently, a clear cell variant of CEOT has been identified with only eight well-documented cases in the literature. We present an additional case of clear cell CEOT of the mandible and review the salient clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic features of this entity and CEOTs in general. The differential diagnosis of clear cell tumors in the mandible includes: clear cell odontogenic tumor, clear cell ameloblastoma (odontogenic carcinoma), metastatic clear cell adenocarcinoma, primary intraosseous mucoepidermoid carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, clear cell salivary gland tumors, and clear cell variant of squamous cell carcinoma. Because of the belief that clear cell odontogenic tumors are locally aggressive neoplasms, definitive resection of the entire mass with tumor-free surgical margins and long-term follow-up are recommended.