Background
Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC), which has been described within the past 2 decades, is a rare odontogenic tumor that tends to occur in the mandible of older adults, with a predilection for women. It is potentially aggressive and capable of multiple local recurrences and locoregional and distant metastases.
Objectives
To report the clinicopathologic findings and follow-up of a case of CCOC and to review the literature.
Design
Case report and literature review.
Main Outcome Measurements
Findings from histologic analysis, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy.
Results
An 81-year-old woman experienced 3 locoregional recurrences within 21 months of initial therapy. She is presently disease free, 4.5 years after initial resection, having received multiple resections and adjuvant radiotherapy.
Conclusions
The diagnosis of CCOC must be considered in the differential diagnosis of jaw tumors with a clear cell component. For these tumors, resection with negative margins is the treatment of choice because more conservative surgery (eg, curettage) inevitably results in recurrence and/or metastasis. Adjuvant radiotherapy is a rational option for tumors that have eroded cortex.