Ameloblastoma Associated with Dentinogenic Ghost Cell Tumor: A Case Report

Kim, Tae Jung; Lee, Youn Soo; Kim, Byung Kee; Lee, Kyo Young

Abstract

Dentinogenic ghost cell tumor (DGCT) is an uncommon odontogenic tumor. It is characterized by islands of odontogenic epithelial cells that contain numerous ghost cells and dysplastic dentin. Occasionally, DGCT combines with other odontogenic tumors, such as ameloblastoma. We report here on a 21-year-old female who complained of a tender solid mass in the left maxilla for the 7 month previous to her admission. MRI revealed a relatively well demarcated mass in the left maxilla with heterogenous signal intensity, measuring 3.2 x 2.8 cm, and this mass had invaded the left palate. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of nests of odontogenic epithelium that contained ghost cells and calcification with dysplastic dentin, which is all consistent with DGCT. Localized area showed odontogenic epithelial follicles that had peripheral palisading and satellite reticulum without ghost cells and dentin, and this is consistent with ame- loblastoma. The immunohistochemistry revealed cytokeratins, EMA, S100 and Bcl-2 positivity in areas of the DGCT and ameloblastoma. In the ameloblastoma, Bcl-2 positivity was noted in the palisading basal cells. We concluded that the tumor was an ameloblastoma associated with DGCT.