Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/80691

KEYWORDS : Calcifying odontogenic cyst;Calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor;p53;MDM2;BAX

A case of a calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) is described. The patient was referred to our hospital for the treatment of a recurrence of an ameloblastoma. To perform enucl eation as conservative surgery, deflation and biopsy were applied. From the specimens, the pathological diagnosis ha d changed to COC. After the biopsy, the lesions presented rapid growth and partial m axillectomy was performed. Morph ologically, malignant findings were not determined in the surgical specimens. To exclude the possibilit y of malignant transformation because of the rapid growth, an immunohistochemical analysis with cell growth marker Ki-67 and tumor suppressor p53 was performed, here a somewhat high positive staining of 10 % for Ki- 67 and 20-30 % for p53 were observed. To examine the metabolism and function of p53, further immunohistochemical staining was perfo rmed and showed negative staining for the p53 degradation enzyme MDM2 and positive staining of the p53-mediat ied apoptosis molecule BAX with 8 0 % positive staining. These findings suggest that the lesion had a high gro wth potential as well as abnormal p53 metabolism and function. Finally, COC was assigned as the pathological diagnos is giving priority to the morphological findings. No recurrence has been observed for 3 years after resection.