The dentinogenic ghost cell tumor.

An unusual case and they of dentinogenic ghost cell tumor, a peculiar variant of calcifying odontogenic cyst, is reported. The tumor consisted predominantly of ghost cells with occasional areas of "dentinoid" in close proximity to masses of ghost cells. The presence of ameloblastoma-like nests of epithelium was characteristic of the present case and they were interpreted as a degenerative phenomenon exhibiting an inductive effect with formation of abundant ghost cells, occurring within a pre-existing ameloblastoma. The term of "dentinogenic ghost cell tumor" is employed for this unique lesion presented in this report. The literature describing the neoplastic potential of the calcifying odontogenic cyst is briefly reviewed.