GIANT-CELL LESIONS OF THE JAWS - EVALUATION OF NUCLEOLAR ORGANIZER REGIONS IN LESIONS OF VARYING BEHAVIOR

To examine whether giant cell lesions of the jaws (GCL) of varying beh avior could be separated histologically, a number of GCL were studied using the AgNOR staining technique for nucleolar organizer regions. Th e mean AgNOR count of mononuclear cells from recurrent lesions (1.73 /- 0.15) was slightly higher than that of the aggressive lesions (1.54 +/- 0.21) and much higher than that of the non-aggressive/non-recurre nt lesions (1.33 +/- 0.14). Similarly, the mean AgNOR count of the mul tinucleate giant cells of the recurrent lesions (1.52 +/- 0.14) was sl ightly higher than that of aggressive lesions (1.34 +/- 0.092) and muc h higher than that of non-aggressive/non-recurrent lesions (1.26 +/- 0 .05). Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the mean number of AgNORS of recurrent lesions and non-recurrent/non-aggr essive ones in both the mononuclear and multinuclear population (p < 0 .05).