Dentinogenic ghost cell tumor - Case report of a rare entity

Inês Salgado; Miguel Vilares; Ricardo Nogueira; Miguel Rito; Filipa Rosa; Pedro Gomes

doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.105651

Dentinogenic ghost cell tumor - Case report of a rare entity

Int J Surg Case Rep. 2021 Apr:81:105651. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.105651. Epub 2021 Feb 15.

Authors

Inês Salgado¹, Miguel Vilares², Ricardo Nogueira², Miguel Rito³, Filipa Rosa³, Pedro Gomes²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil, Portugal. Electronic address: isalgado@ipolisboa.min-saude.pt.
² Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil, Portugal.
³ Department of Anatomical Pathology, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil, Portugal.

Abstract

Introduction: Dentinogenic ghost cell tumor (DGCT) is an entity with about 60 cases reported in the literature. It is a benign odontogenic tumor, despite being locally invasive and associated with a risk of local recurrence.

Presentation of case: A 47-year-old woman presented with a 2-year-old expansive bone lesion. Radiologically, a multilocular mass was identified in the left superior maxilla, compatible with a tumor of odontogenic origin. She was submitted to an extended resection, and the histology was consistent with a DGCT.

Discussion: Central DGCT affects mainly male patients between the fourth and sixth decades, with a predilection for the posterior portion of the jaws. The symptoms are unspecific, and a vast percentage of patients is asymptomatic. Radiographically a unilocular feature is commonly found, unlike this case. The recommended treatment is extended local resection due to its high recurrence rate.

Conclusion: Due to its rarity, knowledge of this entity is necessary for a better diagnostic and therapeutic guidance.

Keywords: Case report; Dentinogenic ghost cell tumor; Head and neck; Maxillectomy; Odontogenic tumor.

Publication types

Case Reports