Bilateral giant cell tumors of the mandible

Abstract

1. 1. The etiology of central giant cell tumors is not yet clear; some believe them to be neoplastic while others feel they are new formations from a reactive inflammatory resorption. 2. 2. This tumor has been known in the past as giant cell sarcoma, giant cell epulis, and giant cell tumor; the latter is the term of choice. 3. 3. The localized forms of giant cell tumor must also be differentiated from giant cell tumor occurring in generalized bone disease, viz., osteitis fibrosa due to hyperparathyroidism. 4. 4. Clinically one can distinguish the periosteal peripheral or giant cell epulis and the central giant cell tummor, but from the pathologic aspect no difference exists. 5. 5. Frequently pycnosis (degeneration of cells) is mistaken for mitosis and for this reason wrongly diagnosed as sarcoma, even though the latter may also contain numerous giant cells. 6. 6. The radiographic interpretation is important as giant cell tumor is unlike a cyst which has a cortical bone line around the area. (Giant cell tumor presents a vague radiolucent defect.