Central giant cell granulomas of the jaws: retrospective radiographic analysis of 13 patients

This study was performed to retrospectively analyse the imaging features of 13 patients with central giant cell granulomas (CGCGs) examined at a single institution.

The orthopantomography and cone beam computed tomography images of 13 patients histopathologically diagnosed with CGCGs were retrospectively analysed. Patients aged > 30 years underwent measurement of their calcium and parathyroid hormone levels. No cases of hyperparathyroidism were identified in the study group.

Thirteen lesions of 13 patients (7 female, 6 male) were included in this study. The patients’ ages ranged from 8 to 79 years at the time of presentation. Among the 13 lesions, 2 (15.4%) were in the maxilla and 11 (84.6%) were in the mandible. Eight lesions (61.5%) were unilocular and 5 lesions (38.5%) were multilocular with a soap bubble appearance. Three of the lesions were > 5 cm, and the remaining ten lesions were < 5 cm; five of these smaller lesions met at least three of the aggressiveness criteria. Therefore, according to these criteria, eight aggressive and five non-aggressive CGCGs were examined in this series.

The distinction between aggressive and non-aggressive CGCGs is extremely important because it leads to changes in the individual treatment protocol that is applied. It may be possible to minimise recurrence after treatment by detecting findings such as cortical perforation or thinning, cortical bone expansion, and the presence of root resorption.