Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma of the jaws: Report of two cases and a literature review

Dentinogenic ghost cell tumor revisited from a single institution in China with focus on adenoid ameloblastoma-like features

OBJECTIVE

The present study aims to identify adenoid ameloblastoma (AdAM) from previously diagnosed cases of dentinogenic ghost cell tumor (DGCT), and gain insight to the possible relationship between AdAM and DGCT.

METHODS

DGCT cases diagnosed between 2006 and 2022 were re-examined with focus on the AdAM-like features.

RESULTS

A total of nine patients were included. Seven patients were males and two were females. The mean age was 38.0 ± 16.0 years. Five tumors occurred in the maxilla and four in the mandible, with a remarkable predilection for the posterior regions of both jaws. Microscopically, dentinoid material deposition was present in all cases. The ghost cells were absent in two cases. Rare ghost cells (<1%) were observed in three cases, and a higher proportion of ghost cells (5%-20%) were present in the remaining four cases. All cases showed prominent AdAM-like features, including duct-like structures, whorls/morules, and cribriform architecture. According to the diagnostic criteria proposed by the 2022 WHO classification, five cases without or with rare ghost cells were reclassified as AdAM. The other four cases including a higher proportion of ghost cells consisted of a mixture of DGCT and AdAM histopathologic patterns.

CONCLUSION

Our results confirmed that the AdAM-like features had been largely overlooked in the diagnosis of DGCT at our institution in the past. Whilst a subset can now be more accurately classified as AdAM, some tumors showed overlapping morphological features between AdAM and DGCT, suggesting that the two may represent a spectrum of the same entity.

Malignant Recurrence of Benign Odontogenic Tumors (A Single Center Cross-Sectional Study)

BACKGROUND

Despite their rarity, malignant odontogenic tumors (MOT) represent an important group of oral lesions characterized by their variable clinical presentations and sometimes unexpected biological behavior.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to evaluate the number, types, and frequency of MOT and to investigate the relative rate of malignant transformation in recurrent odontogenic tumors (OT).

METHODOLOGY

The records of patients diagnosed with OT in the hospital of the Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, were reviewed over 10 years (2013-2022). The OT were investigated for frequency, age, gender, site, and recurrence. The data were recorded and then analyzed using SPSS software version 25.

RESULTS

Among 5543 oral excisions, 357 cases of them were OT, including 336 benign (94.1%) and 21 malignant neoplasms (5.9%). Among the odontogenic malignancies, 18 lesions (85.7%) appeared de novo, and 3 lesions (14.3%) developed as recurrent of previously classified benign tumors. A high incidence was observed in the middle and old age groups (90.4%) with a median age being 42. Slight male predilection (1.3:1) was noticed. The mandible was the highly affected site but all recurrent cases were diagnosed in the maxilla as ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (n = 2, 66.6%) and primary intraosseous carcinoma (n = 1, 33.3%).

CONCLUSION

Retrospective analysis of the relative frequency of MOT and the documentation of the unusual recurrence of benign OT as a malignancy enhances our understanding of OT behavior and the need for appropriate therapy and clinical follow-up.

Challenging pitfalls in frozen section pathology: a case of mandible ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma and the literature review

BACKGROUND

Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC) is a rare malignancy characterized by the presence of ghost cells, preferably in the maxilla. Only slightly more than 50 case reports of GCOC have been documented to date. Due to the rarity of this tumor and its nonspecific clinical criteria, there is a heightened risk of misdiagnosis in clinical examination, imaging findings, and pathology interpretation.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 50-year-old male patient presented to the hospital due to experiencing pain in his lower front teeth while eating for the past 2 months. Upon examination, a red, hard, painless mass was found in his left lower jaw, measuring approximately 4.0 cm × 3.5 cm. Based on the malignant histological morphology of the tumor and the abundant red-stained keratinized material, the preoperative frozen section pathology misdiagnosed it as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The surgical resection specimen pathology via paraffin section revealed that the tumor was characterized by round-like epithelial islands within the fibrous interstitium, accompanied by a large number of ghost cells and some dysplastic dentin with infiltrative growth. The malignant components displayed marked heterogeneity and mitotic activity. Additionally, a calcified cystic tumor component of odontogenic origin was observed. Hemorrhage, necrosis, and calcifications were present, with a foreign body reaction around ghost cells. Immunoreactivity for β-catenin showed strong nuclear positivity in tumor cells, while immunostaining was completely negative for p53. The Ki67 proliferation index was approximately 30-40%. The tumor cells exhibited diffuse CK5/6, p63, and p40 immunoreactivity, with varying immunopositivity for EMA. Furthermore, no BRAFV600E mutation was identified by ARMS-PCR. The final pathology confirmed that the tumor was a mandible GCOC.

CONCLUSION

We have reported and summarized for the first time the specific manifestations of GCOC in frozen section pathology and possible pitfalls in misdiagnosis. We also reviewed and summarized the etiology, pathological features, molecular characteristics, differential diagnosis, imaging features, and current main treatment options for GCOC. Due to its rarity, the diagnosis and treatment of this disease still face certain challenges. A correct understanding of the pathological morphology of GCOC, distinguishing the ghost cells and the secondary stromal reaction around them, is crucial for reducing misdiagnosis rates.

Comprehensive clinical, genome and transcriptomic analysis of primary ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

There is currently no comprehensive genome-wide description of the primary ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC), hindering our understanding of pathogenesis. We herein present a case with comprehensive clinical, genome and transcriptomic analysis. These will serve as the first comprehensive molecular atlas for primary GCOC. A 58-year-old male underwent subtotal resection with prosthetic restoration. Genome sequencing (WGS) detected previously identified CTNNB1 mutation with novel alterations of MAP3K, EP300, and 22q11.21 region. Transcriptome results showed significant involvement of cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. These results need to be compared with more GCOCs for more accurate clinical guidance.

Case report: Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma in a dog: diagnostics and surgical outcome

A 6 year-old spayed female Poodle presented with a mandibular mass. Radiographic examination revealed osteolysis from the right mandibular canine to the fourth premolar, along with horizontal bone loss and dorsal displacement of the right mandibular first and second premolars. Skull cone beam computed tomography revealed osteolysis at the level of the right mandibular canine and fourth premolar. A destructive bone lesion was observed in the apical area of the right mandibular canine, with mass invasion of the interradicular bone of the right mandibular first molar near the mandibular canal. Consequently, unilateral total mandibulectomy and skin flap surgery were performed. Histopathological examination revealed poorly demarcated and infiltrative neoplastic epithelial cells that formed small islands and trabeculae. Neoplastic cells exhibited the malignant features of cytological atypia and high mitotic activity. Furthermore, the neoplastic epithelial cells frequently showed ghost cell changes and were diagnosed as ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC). The dog was followed up for 1 year, during which no severe complications or local recurrence was observed, except for slight mandibular drift, tongue protrusion, and drooling. This case report describes the clinical features, diagnostic imaging, and histologic features of an unreported GCOC in a dog and the favorable outcome following surgical resection.

Treatment challenges of persistent ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma: a case report and literature review

The aim of this case report is to review and compare the clinical, radiologic, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features, along with the treatment of a case of ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma. In addition, a report of the existing published literature with an emphasis on treatment will be described to provide information on this rare but aggressive tumor. The family of odontogenic ghost cell tumors comprises a spectrum of lesions characterized by odontogenic epithelium with ghost cell keratinization and calcifications. It appears that early detection is vital in proper treatment due to the high possibility of malignant transformation.

Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma: A case report

Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC) is a rare malignant neoplasm characterized by the presence of ghostcells. It is considered to originate from either a calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) or a dentinogenic ghost cell tumor(DGCT). Its clinical and radiographic characteristics are non-specific, including slow growth, locally aggressivebehavior, and eventual metastasis. This case report describes a 43-year-old Thai man with plain radiographs and cone-beam computed tomographic images revealing a unilocular radiolucency with non-corticated borders surrounding an impacted left canine associated with radiopaque foci around the cusp tip. Based on the microscopic findings, the lesion was diagnosed as GCOC. Partial maxillectomy of the right maxilla was performed, and radiotherapy was administered. An obturator was made to support masticatory functions Three years later, the lesion showed complete boneremodeling and no signs of recurrence, and long-term follow-up was done regularly.

A rare case of mandibular dentinogenic ghost cell tumor: Histopathological, clinical and surgical management

Dentinogenic ghost cell tumor (DGCT) is a rare benign tumorous form of calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) characterized by the presence of ghost cells but it seems to have more aggressive behavior. It represents 11.5% of COCs. In this work, we report a case of a 60-year-old male patient with DGCT in the posterior region of the right mandible treated with surgical enucleation.

Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma of anterior mandible: A rare case report with review of literature

A 24-year-old male reported to the outpatient department with a complaint of swelling of the anterior lower jaw region for 9 months with history of traumatic injury and extraction of teeth from the same region, a month before the onset of swelling. Swelling was obvious extra- and intraorally which on examination presented as a soft to firm non-tender and non-fluctuant mass with an approximate size of 4 cm × 3 cm, extending from 34 to 43 region with obliteration of labial vestibule. Panoramic radiograph and cone-beam computed tomography showed a well-defined radiolucency in the mandibular anterior region crossing the midline with erosion of labial bony plates and root of 42 along with a tooth-like radiopaque mass within the lesion. Provisional diagnoses of odontogenic keratocyst, ameloblastomas, central giant cell granuloma and calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor were listed. The histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of lesion followed by the biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma.