HYBRID CENTRAL GIANT-CELL GRANULOMA AND CENTRAL ODONTOGENIC FIBROMA-LIKE LESIONS OF THE JAWS

Ten lesions from eight cases are presented of a rare intra-osseous jaw lesion with the combined histological features of giant cell granulom a and central odontogenic fibroma. Lesions arose over a wide age range and presented as monolocular or multilocular radiolucencies with cort ical expansion and, in one case, perforation, Two lesions recurred aft er curettage, one being eradicated by a second curettage and one by co nservative excision, Histologically, zones of typical giant cell granu loma lay in a fibrous stroma containing islands, strands and clusters of epithelial cells, Islands often contained duct-like spaces or hyali ne basement membrane globules. Trabeculae of osteoid were present in f ive lesions. Recurrent lesions showed features identical to the initia l lesion, including recurrence of the prominent epithelial component, These features cannot be conclusively ascribed to a variant of either giant cell granuloma, central odontogenic fibroma or aneurysmal bone c yst, but the clinical features are slightly more suggestive of giant c ell granuloma. Attention is drawn to the characteristic and potentiall y confusing histological appearances, The presence of giant cell granu loma-like areas in central odontogenic fibroma-like lesions is associa ted with an increased risk of recurrence following curettage.