Dentinogenic ghost cell tumor: histologic aspects, immunohistochemistry, lectin binding profiles, and biophysical studies

Dentinogenic ghost cell tumor accompanied with calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) was described in terms of its clinical, histological, immunohistochem ical. lectin binding and biophysical properties. The case was a 38-year-old Japanese female, in whom the tumor had arisen in the right mandibular prem olar and molar region. Material obtained by partial mandibulectomy was used . Decalcified paraffin sections were used to detect keratins, involucrin, a nd lectin binding; and non-decalcified thin sections were used for biophysi cal analysis. The lesion comprising dentinogenic ghost cell tumor and COC c ontained odontogenic epithelium with ghost cells, eosinophilic amorphous ma terials and osteodentin. Some of the eosinophilic material had undergone tr ansformation into osteodentin. Keratins in odontogenic epithelia showed pos itive PKK1 staining in peripheral tumor cells, and stainings with KL1 and i nvolucrin were positive in centrally located cells. Lectin binding in the a morphous materials was comparatively strong for PNA, and SEA. moderate for WGA, RCA-1, and UEA-1, and slight for DBA and ConA. Lectin binding affiniti es were higher in the amorphous materials than in the osteodentin. Elementa l analysis with an electron probe X-ray microanalysis of the amorphous mate rials and osteodentin showed a pattern similar to that found in the normal dentin. The biologic properties of the eosinophilic amorphous materials sug gested the material to be poorly calcified osteodentin, which gradually tra nsformed into the well-calcified type. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.