Is Conservative Surgery the Best Approach for Peripheral Calcifying Epithelial Odontogenic Tumors?

Peripheral Calcifying Epithelial Odontogenic Tumors (CEOT) rich in clear cells are a rare entity in the oral cavity, with only 14 previous case reports in the English literature. None have discussed recommended treatment approaches for extraosseous CEOT.

This brief descriptive review describes a treatment approach for peripheral CEOT including the clear cell variant.

A complete review of all well-documented extraosseous case reports with an emphasis on the treatment was performed. Additionally, the present article reports a case of a 21-year-old woman with an asymptomatic swelling in the gingiva finally diagnosed as peripheral CEOT abundant in clear cells.

Twenty-four cases of peripheral CEOT were described; conservative surgery was the first treatment approach in approximately 80% of cases, with only one recurrence.

Clear cell finding was not associated with more aggressive behavior.

Conservative surgery may be an advantageous approach for this group of peripheral lesions with or without clear cells, with a recurrence rate of approximately 4%.