OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws and the relationship between the pathologic features and its clinical behavior.

METHODSHistologic, radiographic and follow-up information for 31 cases of central giant cell granuloma were reviewed. The histopathologic patterns were analyzed between nonrecurrent and recurrent cases for which the following-up information was available.

RESULTSThe majority of the giant cell granuloma of the jaws occurred in patients under 30 with a predilection of females and mostly were involved in the mandible. The radiographic features of CGCG non-specific. The multinucleated giant cell scattered unevenly, the numbers of the nuclei were few and mostly 10-19. The marked fibrosis, the multiple area of hemorrhage, abundant hemosiderin and newly formed bone were always present in the lesions. No significant difference exited between the recurrence and nonrecurrence groups in the pathologic features. The patients with aggressive behavior showed more consistent with the recurrence.

CONCLUSIONSCGCG was a non-neoplastic lesion of the jaws which was different from the giant cell tumor. It was difficult to distinguish between the CGCG and giant cell tumor (GCT), and to predict its clinical behavior only by the histopathological patterns. It was helpful to combine the clinical presentation of CGCG with its treatment.