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Published on: September 8, 2023
Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma arising in dentinogenic ghost cell tumor with next-generation sequencing cancer
Mai Seki-Soda1, Takaaki Sano2, Nozomi Matsumura3
1Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Plastic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
Objective:
Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC) is a rare tumor that can sometimes occur from dentinogenic ghost cell tumor (DGCT).
Study Design:
We report a case of GCOC arising from DGCT that underwent long-term follow-up with multiple biopsies. The biopsy specimens were analyzed using a next-generation sequencing cancer panel.
Results:
Histopathology of the resected tumor revealed that the boundary between benign and malignant components was clear. In immunohistochemistry, the nuclei of malignant tumor cells were positive for β-catenin and LEF-1. CTNNBI mutation was detected in all 4 biopsy specimens, and all of these mutations were identical (c.98C>G (p.Ser33Cys)). No other gene mutations that could definitively cause malignant transformation were detected.
Conclusions:
This case suggested that GCOC and DGCT are ghost cell neoplasms caused by a common mutation of CTNNB1 and that the malignant cells of GCOC are derived from cells that specifically differentiate into ghost cells.

