Peripheral Giant Cell Granuloma 

  • Author: Carl Allen, DDS; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jul 22, 2011
 

Background

The peripheral giant cell granuloma has an unknown etiology, with some dispute as to whether this lesion represents a reactive or neoplastic process. However, most authorities believe peripheral giant cell granuloma is a reactive lesion. See image below.

This peripheral giant cell granuloma involved the This peripheral giant cell granuloma involved the maxillary gingiva associated with an erupting central incisor of a 6-year-old girl. The referring doctor had suggested a diagnosis of eruption cyst; however, an eruption cyst would immediately collapse once the tooth had disrupted its roof.
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Epidemiology

Frequency

United States

Peripheral giant cell granuloma is uncommon but not rare. Precise estimates of its incidence and prevalence in the general population have not been definitively determined.

Mortality/Morbidity

No mortality is associated with peripheral giant cell granuloma, and the lesion has minimal morbidity. Malignant transformation has never been reported.

Race

No known racial predilection is associated with peripheral giant cell granuloma.

Sex

Most reports describe a slight female predilection.

Age

A wide age range of patients can be affected, although most patients are in the fourth to sixth decades of life at the time of diagnosis of this lesion. The mean age of patients at the time of diagnosis is typically 38-42 years.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Carl Allen, DDS  Director, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Pathology, Ohio State University College of Dentistry; Professor, Department of Pathology, Ohio State University College of Medicine

Carl Allen, DDS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Dental Association, American Society for Microbiology, International Association for Dental Research, and International Association of Oral Pathologists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Terry L Barrett, MD  Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine; Director, ProPath Dermatopathology, Dallas, Texas

Terry L Barrett, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, American Medical Association, American Society of Dermatopathology, College of American Pathologists, and United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David F Butler, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Drore Eisen, MD, DDS  Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Dermatology Research Associates of Cincinnati

Drore Eisen, MD, DDS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Oral Medicine, and American Dental Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Glen H Crawford, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital

Glen H Crawford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of USAF Flight Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous Chief Editor, William D. James, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

References

  1. Bodner L, Peist M, Gatot A, Fliss DM. Growth potential of peripheral giant cell granuloma. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. May 1997;83(5):548-51. [Medline].

  2. Bischof M, Nedir R, Lombardi T. Peripheral giant cell granuloma associated with a dental implant. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. Mar-Apr 2004;19(2):295-9. [Medline].

  3. Hirshberg A, Kozlovsky A, Schwartz-Arad D, Mardinger O, Kaplan I. Peripheral giant cell granuloma associated with dental implants. J Periodontol. Sep 2003;74(9):1381-4. [Medline].

  4. Cloutier M, Charles M, Carmichael RP, Sandor GK. An analysis of peripheral giant cell granuloma associated with dental implant treatment. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2007;103:618-622. [Medline].

  5. Choi C, Terzian E, Schneider R, Trochesset DA. Peripheral giant cell granuloma associated with hyperparathyroidism secondary to end-stage renal disease: a case report. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. May 2008;66(5):1063-6. [Medline].

  6. Dayan D, Buchner A, Spirer S. Bone formation in peripheral giant cell granuloma. J Periodontol. Jul 1990;61(7):444-6. [Medline].

  7. Sahingur SE, Cohen RE, Aguirre A. Esthetic management of peripheral giant cell granuloma. J Periodontol. Mar 2004;75(3):487-92. [Medline].

  8. Grand E, Burgener E, Samson J, Lombardi T. Post-traumatic development of a peripheral giant cell granuloma in a child. Dent Traumatol. Feb 2008;24(1):124-6. [Medline].

  9. Martins MD, Pires F, Daleck F, Myaki SI, Friggi MN, Martins MA. Peripheral giant cell granuloma in anterior maxilla: case report in a child. J Clin Pediatr Dent. Winter 2005;30(2):161-4. [Medline].

  10. Pandolfi PJ, Felefli S, Flaitz CM, Johnson JV. An aggressive peripheral giant cell granuloma in a child. J Clin Pediatr Dent. Summer 1999;23(4):353-5. [Medline].

  11. Warrington RD, Reese DJ, Allen G. The peripheral giant cell granuloma. Gen Dent. Nov-Dec 1997;45(6):577-9. [Medline].

 
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A 10-year-old boy developed this painless purple papule of the maxillary facial alveolar process over a 3-month period. Biopsy helped confirm the diagnosis of peripheral giant cell granuloma.
This peripheral giant cell granuloma involved the maxillary gingiva associated with an erupting central incisor of a 6-year-old girl. The referring doctor had suggested a diagnosis of eruption cyst; however, an eruption cyst would immediately collapse once the tooth had disrupted its roof.
This asymptomatic bluish-purple nodule developed on the edentulous mandibular alveolar ridge of a 76-year-old man.
 
 
 
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