Sclerosing odontogenic carcinoma: current diagnostic and management considerations concerning a most unusual neoplasm

Sclerosing odontogenic carcinoma (SOC) is a primary intraosseous carcinoma of the jaws that has been listed as a separate entity for the first time in the latest version of the World Health Organization classification of Head and Neck Tumours (2017). The aim of this study was to analyse and interpret the existing literature on SOC in the context of a clinical case treated in the authors' department. A systematic search of the PubMed database was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, yielding nine cases of SOC reported so far. In summary, characteristic clinical and radiological features of SOC include asymptomatic swelling, location predominantly in the mandible, tumour primarily lytic in appearance, presence of cortical bone destruction, and lack of metastatic spread. Due to the rarity of the disease, close collaboration between oral/maxillofacial surgeons and pathologists is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis. With complete excision, no recurrence of SOC should be expected.