Calcifying epithelial odontogenic (pindborg) tumor: a series of 4 distinctive cases and a review of the literature.

The calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT) was first described as an entity by Danish pathologist Jens J. Pindborg in 1955. Also known as Pindborg tumor, it is an uncommon, locally invasive, benign odontogenic tumor occurring in individuals over a wide age range but peaking in incidence in the 40s. It usually presents as a hard painless mass, generally affecting the mandible. The characteristic histopathologic description consists of sheets and islands of polygonal cells that often have distinct intercellular bridges. The nuclei may be pleomorphic and hyperchromatic and bizarre in appearance. Mitoses are very uncommon. Pale eosinophilic masses (amyloid-like) may be found within the sheets of tumor cells and can undergo calcification, often concentrically in the form of Liesegang rings. Our experience consists of 4 cases in the last 4 years. We present these cases and review the series reported in the literature. Their interest lies not only in their considerable amount, but also in their clinical characteristics.