Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma, diagnostic difficulties. A case report

Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (COCC) is a rare tumor described by Hansen et al. in 1985. The clinical and radiological manifestations are multiple and the diagnosis is histological.

A 64-year-old patient consulted us for a right mandibular osteolytic lesion associated to a homolateral labial hypoesthesia. A biopsy was performed under local anesthesia. Histology was consistent with a metastatic lesion of clear kidney cell carcinoma, COCC, or odontogenic squamous tumor. Additional tests eliminated a metastatic lesion. A wide excision of the lesion by hemi-mandibulectomy associated with lymph node dissection and reconstruction by a fibula osteoseptocutaneous flap was performed. Presence of a fission of the EWSR1 gene on the histological examination of the surgical specimen made the diagnosis of COCC.

Our observation illustrates the difficulty of diagnosing COCC. The new contribution of the cytogenetic techniques such as FISH-type techniques makes possible the improvement of the diagnosis.