Peripheral giant cell granuloma

Peripheral giant cell granuloma is an oral pathologiccondition that appears in the mouthas an overgrowthof tissuedue to irritationor trauma. Because of its overwhelming incidence on the gingiva, the condition is associated with two other diseases, though not because they occur together. Instead, the three are associated with each other because they appear frequently on gingiva and they also begin with the letter "p": pyogenic granulomaand peripheral ossifying fibroma. Because of its similar microscopic appearance to the bony lesions called central giant cell granulomas, peripheral giant cell granulomas are considered by some researchers to be a soft tissueequivalent.

The appearance of peripheral giant cell granulomas is similar to pyogenic granulomas. The colorranges from red to bluish-purple, but is usually more blue in comparison to pyogenic granulomas. It can be sessile or pedunculated with the size usually being less than 2 cm.

There is a genderdifference with 60% of the disease occuring in females. The prevalence of peripheral giant cell granulomas is highest around 50 - 60 years of age. It appears only on the gingiva or on an edentulous (without teeth) alveolar ridge. It is more often found in the mandiblerather than the maxillabut can be found in either anterior or posterior areas. The underlying alveolar bonecan be destroyed, leaving a unique appearance referred to as "cupping resorption" or "saucerization".

Peripheral giant cell granulomas appear microscopicallyas a large number of multinucleated giant cells, which can have up to dozens of nuclei. Additionally, there are mesenchymal cellsthat are ovoid and spindle-shaped. Near the borders of the lesion, doposits of hemosiderinand hemorrhageis often found. In 50% of cases, ulcerationsare present.

Treatment usually involves surgicalremoval of the lesion down to the bone. If there are any adjacent teeth, they are cleaned thoroughly to remove any possible source of irritation. Recurrence is around 10%.

References

• Kahn, Michael A. Basic Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Volume 1. 2001.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral+giant+cell+granuloma Wikipedia article Peripheral giant cell granuloma.