Letter to the editor concerning Stavropoulos F, Katz J. Central giant cell granulomas: a systematic review of the radiographic characteristics with addition of 20 new cases published inDentomaxillofacial Radiology2002; 31: 213–217—author response

Abstract

We would like to express our deep appreciation to Dr Katkar for the thorough and meticulous analysis of this study. After revisiting the citations involved, we concur with Dr Katkar regarding the numbers of central giant cell granuloma lesions characterized by a well defined border. Horner1 made a distinction between lesions with well-defined margins that lacked cortical bone and lesions that were well defined with cortical bone (69% and 8%, respectively). Kaffe et al2 had classified the borders into three categories: well defined, diffused and poorly defined (39%, 22% and 39%, respectively). Whitaker and Waldron3 reported that most cases of this lesion had well-defined borders but only 19% had well-corticated borders. The majority of the cases reported in the literature therefore had well-defined borders consistent with our reported cases (65%). It should be emphasized, however, that additional factors such as root resorption, bone expansion multilocular appearance and displaced anatomic structures may affect the benign or aggressive nature of this condition.