Diagnosis of central giant cell granuloma: a rare case in the mandibular condyle

Abstract

The central giant cell granuloma is an uncommon benign lesion that occurs almost exclusively within the jawbones. This article presents a rare case report of a 15 year-old male patient diagnosed with the pathology after the surgical excision of a lytic lesion of the right condyle. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens were stained with histological (hematoxylin and eosin) and immunohistochemical techniques (CD68 and Ki-67). Histologically the lesion was made up of a fibrillar connective tissue stroma with oval and spindle-shaped mononuclear cells, abundant multinuclear giant cells, small capillaries, foci of hemorrhage, and presence of osteoid matrix. There was strong immunoreactivity in giant cells for CD68, with only some of the mononuclear cells exhibiting reactivity for Ki-67. This lesion in the mandibular condyle presents a similar biological behavior to other sites of the gnathic skeleton, therefore requiring the same treatment. Retromandibular incision and resection with margins were chosen for provide the lowest recurrence rates despite the high morbidity.