Peripheral dentinogenic ghost cell tumor: a case report and review of the literature

Dentinogenic ghost cell tumor (DGCT) is a rare neoplasm, representing 1.9% to 2.1% of all odontogenic tumors. Few cases of DGCT have been reported and only 11 show no bone involvement. A rare case of peripheral DGCT is reported, located in the anterior mandible of a 45-year-old man. The patient presented a slow painless growth in the canine region of an edentulous mandible. Radiographically, no bone involvement was registered. The lesion was enucleated and microscopically characterized by islands of epithelial cells showing ameloblastomalike features in fibrous tissue. Dysplasic dentin and ghost cells were frequently observed. Areas showing a connection between tumor cells and the overlying mucosa were also identified. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated positivity for pan-cytokeratin, cytokeratin-14, and 2 neural markers. Denditric cells (Langerhans cells and melanocytes) were identified inside tumoral islands. A rare case of peripheral DGCT is reported, with immunohistochemical analysis and a review of the English literature.