Tumor surrounded by a pseudocapsule of connective tissue

Composed of 3 cell populations forming a transition zone

The transition progresses to the formation of broad areas of ghost cells

1 – Basaloid matrical cells (originating from the hair matrix), uniform and small with prominent nuclei

2 – Eosinophilic (pink-staining) transitional cells with the presence of eosinophils

3 – Ghost cells that have become keratinized and anucleated (loss of nuclei), forming large ghost cell areas

Transition zones

Matrical cells are rapidly growing, thus they exhibit a high mitotic rate

Large areas of ghost cells

Presence of eosinophils in the transition zones

Presence of foreign body-type giant cells at the periphery of the tumor