ABSTRACT
Odontogenic tumors comprise a heterogeneous group of neoplasms that can be separated into malignant and benign categories. Odontogenic tumors, lesions, and cysts mostly arise from epithelial, ectomesenchymal, and/or mesenchymal elements of the tooth-forming apparatus during or after odontogenesis. Most odontogenic tumors occur intraosseously within the maxillofacial skeleton, while others take place extraosseously in the tooth-bearing mucosa. Diagnosis of odontogenic tumors, lesions and cysts is largely based on imaging and histopathologic features. Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma is a locally aggressive low grade malignancy presenting as an ill-defined lucency of the jaw, with the capacity for invasion of medullary bone, nerves, lymphatics, and regional lymph node as well as distant metastases. Radiotherapy for odontogenic tumors and lesions typically consists of a mean dose of 64 Gy delivered by intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). In general, patients with odontogenic tumors undergoing surgery alone have a better survival rate than those receiving adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.
