A rare case of recurrent calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor in an adolescent patient: Case report and review of literature

Abstract

Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT) is a rare benign odontogenic epithelial tumor characterized by the presence of amyloid material within the tumor that can undergo calcification. CEOT affects individuals across a broad age range, typically between 20 and 60 years, with an average onset age of 40 years. However, it is extremely rare in children and adolescents. According to the literature, only 31 cases of CEOT in children and adolescents have been reported from 1971 to 2023, accounting for approximately 7 % of all CEOT cases. In the 2022 WHO classification of odontogenic tumors, CEOT is classified as a benign tumor, but it is inherently locally aggressive, capable of invading surrounding normal jawbone tissues, with a recurrence rate of 10–15 %. In this paper, we report a case of a 13-year-old male with a recurrence of CEOT in the mandible 43 months after surgery, covering clinical, imaging, histologic, immunohistochemical, and surgical aspects, and discuss its histopathologic features and treatment options.