title: Pyogenic granuloma, peripheral giant cell granuloma and peripheral ossifying fibroma: retrospective analysis of 138 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study examined retrospectively the clinical and radiographic characteristics of pyogenic granuloma (PG), peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) and peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF), located in the gingiva and alveolar ridge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsy records of the Stomatology Service of São Lucas Hospital-PUCRS were reviewed between 1980 and 2006. The medical charts of patients with histopathologic diagnosis of PG, PGCG and POF were selected. The data obtained were evaluated by means of descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the chi-squared test (chi-squared), considering the 5% level of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 138 cases analyzed, 57.2% corresponded to PG, 22.5% to PGCG and 20.3% to POF. PG and POF exhibited a predilection for females and PGCG for males. PG occurred in younger individuals and showed a greater tendency for bleeding (P=0.018). PG showed a greater frequency of reddish color (P<0.001), PGCG purplish (P<0.001) and POF pinkish (P<0.001). In the radiographic examination, the presence of radiopaque foci was greater in POF (P<0.001), and resorption of the subjacent alveolar bone was found more often in PGCG (P<0.001). POF exhibited a longer evolution. There was no difference in lesions with respect to local irritating factors, ulceration, size, site and recurrence. Pregnancy was a factor linked to PG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the lesions investigated exhibit similar clinical characteristics, the present study demonstrated that aspects such as age of the patient and evolution, color, bleeding and radiographic characteristics can help in the differential diagnosis of these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Stomatology and Oral Maxillofacial Cancer Prevention Unit, São Lucas Hospital, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil. fesalum@terra.com.br
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Salum
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Yurgel
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cherubini
authors.forename: M A Z
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Figueiredo
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Nicola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003116:Color; D005260:Female; D018214:Fibroma, Ossifying / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D017789:Granuloma, Pyogenic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors