8 February 2007 – Case of the Week #73

 

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We thank Dr. Juan José Segura Fonseca, Hospital San Juan de Dios, San José, Costa Rica, for contributing this case and the discussion.  We invite you to contribute a Case of the Week by sending an email to NPernick@PathologyOutlines.com with microscopic images (any size, we will shrink if necessary) in JPG or GIF format, a clinical history, your diagnosis and any other images (gross, immunostains, EM, etc.) that may be helpful or interesting.  We will write the discussion (unless you want to), list you as the contributor, and send you a check for $35 (US) for your time after we send out the case.  Please only send cases with a definitive diagnosis. 

 

Case of the Week #73

 

Clinical history

 

A 66 yr old man was admitted with a history of enlargement of the right mandible for several months, associated with pain and loosening of several teeth. A small fistulous tract was draining into the mucosa.  X-rays disclosed an extensive lytic and cyst-like lesion that involved almost the entire right mandible (figure 1).  A surgical curettage was done.  

 

Micro images: figure 2figure 3figure 4figure 5figure 6figure 7 

 

What is your diagnosis? 

 

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Diagnosis:

 

Primary intraosseous odontogenic verrucous carcinoma of the mandible arising in a dentigerous cyst

 

Discussion

 

Low and medium power magnifications show squamous epithelium with marked papillomatous and acantholytic hyperplasia (figure 2figure 3).  Superficial stromal invasion by solid nests of well differentiated squamous carcinoma is present (figure 4; figure 5).  A residual squamous epithelial lining with chronic inflammation, belonging to a dentigerous cyst, is present (figure 6; figure 7).

 

This is one of the few cases of verrucous carcinoma arising as a primary intraosseous odontogenic carcinoma of the mandible or maxilla within a dentigerous cyst (a cyst that surrounds the crown of an impacted tooth).  See also Tumori 2001;87:444 and Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1980;49:151.  Primary intraosseous odontogenic carcinomas are usually squamous cell carcinomas within the jaw, without a connection to oral mucosa.  They develop from the epithelial lining of an odontogenic cyst or de novo from intraosseous odontogenic rests (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2006;101:194).  The mean patient age is 52 years (range 4 to 76 years), with 70% occurring in men (Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2001;30:349).  Most tumors (92%) occur in the mandible.

 

Clinically, primary intraosseous odontogenic carcinoma is characterized by progressive swelling of the jaw, pain and loosening of the teeth.  Xrays show a fully radiolucent cystic-like pattern of bone destruction, but with well-defined margins.  The histology is usually a high grade squamous cell carcinoma with aggressive behavior and a destructive pattern.  Cervical nodal metastases are common, and 50% of cases recur within 2 years.  Aggressive surgical excision is recommended (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2007;103:e29), possibly with post-operative radiotherapy.  The overall two and four year survival is 60% and 40% respectively.

 

Verrucous carcinoma was initially described as a type of epidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity by Ackerman (Surgery 1948;23:670).  It is a warty, papillomatous, exophytic white tumor of the oral mucosa.  Histologically, it has proliferating, papillomatous, well differentiated squamous epithelium with no cytological atypia.  The margins are rounded, and invasion is superficial with pushing borders.  Destructive and deep stromal invasion is not present.  The differential diagnosis includes verrucous proliferation without invasion (J Oral Pathol Med 2002;31:500)

 

Additional references: J Craniomaxillofac Surg 2004;32:166, Rev Stomatol Chir Maxillofac 2003;104:265, Oral Oncol 2000;36:305, Indian J Dent Res 2004;15:103

 

 

Nat Pernick, M.D., President
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