Background: A recent systematic review published in Head and Neck Pathology found that 3.8% of dentinogenic ghost cell tumors harbor duct-like/ cribriform architecture. Herein we discuss this finding regarding the differential diagnosis of this tumor with adenoid ameloblastoma.
Methods: A critical review of some microscopic findings reported in a recent paper published in the Head and Neck Pathology Journal was done.
Results: Although there are overlapping microscopic features with dentinogenic ghost cell tumor, adenoid ameloblastoma is distinguished by the combination of duct-like structures and whorls/morules. In our opinion, at least some cases previously diagnosed as dentinogenic ghost cell tumors may now be more accurately classified as adenoid ameloblastoma.
Conclusion: We conclude that a reassessment of dentinogenic ghost cell tumor cases using the diagnostic criteria proposed by the new WHO classification of Head and Neck Tumors (2022) is warranted.
Keywords: CTNNB1 mutations; adenoid ameloblastoma; dentinogenic ghost cell tumor; diagnosis; ghost cell lesions.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.