Comprehensive insights into Pindborg tumor: etiology, advanced diagnostic approaches, and evidence-based management strategies – review of literature
Authors:   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest, Romania, Cumpătă Cristian Niky , Munteanu Maria Cristina ,   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania, Andrei Elena Cristina ,   Department of Histology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania, Liliac Ilona Mihaela ,   Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania, Busuioc Cristina Jana ,   Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania, Di Francesco Paolo ,   Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest, Romania, Moldovan Mădălina Anca ,   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Enache Simona Iuliana ,   Victor Babeş National Institute for Research and Development in Pathology and Biomedical Sciences, Bucharest, Romania, Burcea Alexandru ,   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest, Romania
Published: February 2025

Pindborg tumor is a calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor possibly arising from developmental disturbances in dental lamina remnants. It predominantly affects individuals in their third decade of life, with women also experiencing later onset. The tumor exists in two forms, namely intraosseous (central) and extraosseous (peripheral), with the former showing higher post-surgery recurrence rates of about 14%. Despite its rarity, the tumor can be misdiagnosed due to symptoms resembling dental issues and headaches, or it may even be asymptomatic. Radiologically, it presents a mix of radiolucent and radiopaque areas, sometimes unilocular or multilocular. Histopathologically, it is characterized by nests and sheets of polygonal epithelial cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and prominent nucleoli. The presence of eosinophilic amyloid-like material and calcifications is distinctive, ranging from small concretions to larger aggregates. The exact origin of amyloids is unknown, but they are thought to derive from degraded keratin filaments. Treatment varies by tumor location, with more invasive procedures required for jaw tumors, including bone resection, due to their aggressive growth and invasion of the surrounding tissues. Accurate, individualized treatment is crucial for patient outcomes, particularly in cases where the tumor’s calcification is absent, indicating a severe impact on health. Our study included a case report of a 12-year-old patient who presented to the dental clinic complaining of sporadic pain in the area of the lower right front teeth. During a clinical examination of the area, we noticed a deformation of the alveolar bone, with a depressed mucosa. We followed the chronological steps of radiological examination, lesion excision, and histopathological examination to obtain a definitive diagnosis.