CLEAR-CELL ODONTOGENIC CARCINOMA IN THE MANDIBLE - HISTOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL OBSERVATIONS WITH A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

A rare case of clear cell odontogenic carcinoma was investigated using histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The tumor occurred in the anterior mandible of a 69-year-old Japanese man. Histologically, t he tumor was composed mostly of large clear cells and squamous eels. C olumnar-shaped cells with basophilic nuclei polarized away from the ba sement membrane were observed at the periphery of the tumor foci. The tumor cells had aggressively invaded muscle and perineural tissues. Th e tumor cells were positive for PAS staining. Immunohistochemically, t umor cells reacted positively to keratin, cytokeratin 19, epithelial m embrane antigen, and S-100 protein. The tumor was diagnosed as a clear cell odontogenic carcinoma. Its characteristics are discussed in term of its histopathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical featu res.