The calcifying odontogenic cyst was first recognized as a separate entity by Gorlin and his associates in 1962. It is a rare lesion and accounts for only about 2% of all odontogenic tumors and cysts. The majority of calcifying odontogenic cysts
are
cystic, although approximately 15% are solid lesions. Hence, WHO in 1971 classified calcifying cyst as a benign odontogenic tumor. The calcifying odontogenic cyst often occurs in association with, or contains areas histologically similar to, a
variety
of odontogenic tumors, such as complex and compound odontomas, ameloblastoma, ameloblastic fibroma, ameloblastic fibro-odontoma, odonto-ameloblastoma, calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor, and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor. Among these,
odontoma
is
most often found in relation to the calcifying odontogenic cyst, although only a few reports of calcifying odontogenic cyst found concurrently with true odontoma have been pulished.
This report presents a case of calcifying odontogenic cyst associated with odontoma, reviews the current knowledge concerning this lesion, and attempts to clarify certain ambiguous histologic features of the tumor.
|