title: Cytologic findings in calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT), or Pindborg's tumor, is a rare, benign, odontogenic neoplasm first described by Pindborg in 1955. It is most commonly seen in the fourth and fifth decades of life, usually arises in the mandibular premolar-molar areas and accounts for approximately 1% of all intraosseous odontogenic tumors. This report describes the cytologic findings in a case of CEOT.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 62-year-old woman was referred to the ear, nose and throat clinic with a right maxillary mass. The fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears showed numerous calcifications; amorphous, eosinophilic material; and clusters of round epithelial cells embedded in a bloody background. The smears were diagnosed as suspicious for malignancy. Maxillectomy was done. The histologic sections were diagnosed as CEOT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FNA findings of calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor have been described rarely. The clusters of epithelial cells with prominent nucleoli are mistaken for features of a malignant tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Otolaryngology, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Islamic Republic of Iran. mjavadsh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shekarkhar
authors.forename: Seyed Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Tabei
authors.forename: Perikala V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Seyed Baseer
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hashemi
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008444:Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography