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| Also known as: | Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor |
Description
The lesions appear as masses that are friable and ulcerated. Many amyloid-producing odontogenic tumours are melanotic which makes them difficult to distinguish from the more aggressive malignant melanoma. They can erode but not infiltrate adjacent bone. The most prominent feature of this type of tumour is that it produces amyloid which tends to calcify.
Typical Signalment
This is a common odontogenic tumour in cats and more rarely found in dogs.
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
Include halitosis, oral bleeding, dental disruption or loss, facial or mandibular deformity, excessive salivation, growth protruding from the mouth and rarely dysphagia.
Diagnostic Imaging
Skull radiography may show a soft tissue opacity with mineralization within the mass. Periosteal reaction of the adjacent bone may be visualised. If a malignant neoplasm is a dignostic possibility, thoracic radiography should be carried out to evaluate for lung metastases.
Biopsy
Required for a definitive diagnosis Incisional Biopsy is the best option, when undertaking cytological or grab procedures it is difficult to obtain a representative sample.
Histologically, the tumour appears to be well demarcated from the surrounding tissue but is not encapsulated.
Treatment
Surgical excision with narrow margins is normally sufficient. Radiation therapy should be considered in cases of incomplete surgical excision.
Prognosis
Good following complete surgical excision however recurrance following incomplete surgical excision is possible.
References
Tutt, C., Deeprose, J. and Crossley, D. (2007) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dentistry (3rd Edition) BSAVA
Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual