A case of dentinogenic ghost cell tumor of the mandible with a review of the literature

Abstract

Dentinogenic ghost cell tumors (DGCTs) are a rare type of benign odontogenic tumor with formation of ghost cells and dentinoid. We report a 52-year-old woman with a DGCT. There was buccolingual thickening of the left mandible intraorally, with mobile teeth #33–#37, and non-vital teeth #33–#35. Imaging was performed, followed by an incisional biopsy, which suggested an odontogenic tumor without signs of malignancy, histologically. Segmental mandibulectomy was performed with extraction of tooth #31 and reconstruction with a titanium plate. No recurrence occurred in the 2-year follow-up. Histologically, dentinoid was formed adjacent to the ameloblastoma-like neoplastic odontogenic epithelium, with clusters of ghost cells. Tumor cells stained positive for cytokeratin-14 and cytokeratin-19. Nuclear accumulation of β-catenin was observed in some tumor cells. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as a DGCT with tumor-free surgical margins.