title: Treatment of central giant-cell granulomas of the jaws in children: conservative or radical surgical approach?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although central giant-cell granulomas of the jaws (CGCG) tend to appear more often in children and young adults, most studies include patients of all ages.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Aim of this study was to present and discuss the characteristics, the selected treatment pattern and the outcome of central giant-cell granulomas of the jaws exclusively in children up to 13 years old, during a 10 years period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve young patients, 5-13 years old were included in the study. CGCGs were surgically removed in toto by enucleation followed by curettage of the bone. Repair of the remaining bone defect was performed at the same operation in five cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients healed uneventfully and had prosthetic and/or orthodontic rehabilitation applied post-operatively. Regular long-lasting follow-ups were scheduled. Recurrence occurred in two cases (16.7%), it was small in size and was surgically treated again.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conservative surgery, without extensive bone removal, for CGCGs of the jaws in children was successful in our cases. Additional repair of the osseous defect when needed and teeth rehabilitation as soon as possible are essential in children population. Follow-up needs to be long-lasting, to secure bone healing and unaffected jaw growth. Findings in children population of the present study were similar to those of adults or adolescent populations, although a rather low recurrence rate has been noticed.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at A. and P. Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Dental School, University of Athens, 2 Papadiamantopoulou Str., Athens 115 28, Greece. lygidakis-nadia@ath.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Theologie-Lygidakis
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Telona
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Michail-Strantzia
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iatrou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003475:Curettage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome