Clear cell odontogenic tumor: histochemical and ultrastructural features

Abstract

Clear cell odontogenic tumor, a rare epithelial jaw lesion of putative odontogenic origin, histologically resembles clear cell adenocarcinomas. Ultrastructural and histochemical features are described and support a non-glandular derivation. The intraosseous neoplasm is characterized by ovoid nests of clear or finely stippled cells with a mature collagenous stroma. These cells arc PAS-positive. diastase labile and fail to bind alcian blue. Enzyme histochemical reactions disclose dehydrogenase. non-specific csterase. and acid phosphatase positively. Fine structural characteristics include plasma membrane microvilli, desmosomes. endoplasmic reticulum. free ribosomes. glycogen rosettes and lysosomes. Many cells exhibit a paucity of cytoplasmic organelles with prominent vacuolization. Centrioles and annulate lamellae are also encountered. Summarily, clinical, radiographic. histochemical and ultra-structural features indicate that this neoplasm is probably of epithelial odontogenic origin with cytodifferentiation emulating glycogen-rich presecretory ameloblasts.