Peripheral giant cell lesion: epidemiologic considerations and histopathologic analysis of recurrent cases

Abstract

The files of the Service of His- topathological Diagnosis of Institu- to de Ciências Biológicas-FOUPF were revised and 57 cases of peri- pheral giant cell lesions (PGCL) were found; nine of which were re- current (period from 1984 to 2004). The aim of this study was to collect information of all lesions regarding patient’s age, race, gender and the most common local in the oral cavi- ty for this pathology to occur. Besi- des that, recurrent lesions were his- topathologically analyzed to search some characteristics that might in- dicate the cause of PGCL recurren- ce process. Among other characte- ristics, the type of epithelium that covered the lesions, presence of this epithelium ulcerations, presence of immature bony tissue, level of vas- cularization of the conjunctive tis- sue of the examined lesions, limits of excised lesions and cellular level were analyzed. For the histological examination microscopic laminas rudy-cheeked for the hematoxilin- eosin (HE) method and an optic microscope (ZEISS), with magni- fication of 32, 100 and 400x were used. All the information was re- gistered and statistically analyzed (descriptive frequency test and Anova). The conclusions were that feminine gender, white race and the posterior mandibular region were the most affected for this pa- thology. The mean age was 36 ye- ars. In relation to histopathological aspect, it wasn’t demonstrated the presence of immature bone or other microscopic characteristic in the re- current lesions would have influen- ce on recurrence of this pathology, nevertheless, most of the lesions didn’t have limits preserved during the PGCL removal surgery. Key words: granuloma, giant cells, peripheral lesions, recurrence, reactive hyperplasia, immature bone, proliferative lesions.