Central giant cell granuloma of the jaws: clinical and radiological evaluation of 22 cases.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to investigate the clinical and radiological characteristics of central giant cell granulomas (CGCGs) of the jaws.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of a 20-year database was performed regarding both clinical and radiological features of 22 patients affected with CGCGs of the jaws.


RESULTS
Fourteen women and 8 men were included with the age range of 7-81 years (mean 31.7 years). Among the 22 lesions, 16 were located in the mandible and 6 in the maxilla. Painless swelling was the most common clinical feature in 18 of all cases. Limited mouth opening was noted in 2 patients where the lesions involved the condyle. Radiographically, 13 lesions were homogeneously osteolytic and 9 lesions were trabeculated. Fifteen lesions were unilocular and 14 lesions presented with well-defined but not sclerotic margins. CT images in 5 patients clearly showed the trabeculation within the lesions. The follow-up ranged from 1.5 to 11 years with a mean period of 5 years. Three out of 9 aggressive and 1 out of 13 nonaggressive lesions developed recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Diagnosis of CGCGs of the jaws depends on both correct interpretation of clinical, radiographic and pathological data. Differentiation between aggressive and nonaggressive CGCGs should be considered to improve individual treatment planning.
Sun
Zhi-Jun
ZJ
Key Laboratory for Oral Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 237# Luo Yu Road, Wuhan, 430079, Hubei, China. zhijundejia@yahoo.com.cn
Cai
Yu
Y
Zwahlen
Roger A
RA
Zheng
Yun-Fei
YF
Wang
Shi-Ping
SP
Zhao
Yi-Fang
YF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult