Ghost Cells and its Histogenesis: A Narrative Review

Many research workers have made an attempt to elucidate the nature of ghost cells by employing special histochemical methods, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, and several hypotheses have been offered without any universal agreement. With the purpose of unraveling some of the facts regarding ghost cells with emphasis on their histogenesis, a comprehensive review of available literature on ghost cells and ghost cell containing pathologies was undertaken using PubMed database. A search revealed articles with different theories of histogenesis of ghost cells in various odontogenic and non-odontogenic pathologies. Most of the authors favored aberrant keratinization while abortive enamel matrix formation, degeneration, coagulative necrosis, metaplasia of odontogenic epithelium, abnormal terminal differentiation, or apoptosis were other theories of histogenesis. Recent articles suggested an accumulation of hard keratin in ghost cell cytoplasm and emphasized on role of Wnt-β-catenin pathway in tumorigenesis of ghost cell-containing tumors. Future molecular studies are required to clarify further genetic and predisposing factors along with types and role of keratins involved in ghost cell transformation.