Cytologic diagnosis in benign odontogenic tumor with abundant calcification: a case report.

Background: Calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor (CCOT) accounts for a mere 2-6.8% of odontogenic tumors. The cytologic features of this uncommon entity are not well characterized and may prove challenging in atypical smears, as in our case.

Case: Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed on a right cheek swelling in a 15-year-old girl. Smears showed numerous polyhedral epithelial cells and occasional columnar cells with calcification and Congo red-negative extracellular homogenous material in the background. The initial diagnosis of CCOT on cytology was confirmed subsequently by histopathologic examination of the excision specimen.

Conclusion: Absence of the characteristic ghost cells or basaloid cells as in our case presents an atypical microscopic picture that may be misdiagnosed as other epithelialodontogenic tumors with calcification. Correlation with clinicaland radiologic information is important in interpretation of FNAB of odontogenic tumors.