CASE OF THE MONTH
Peripheral Giant Cell GranulomaPeripheral giant cell granuloma or the so called "giant cell epulis" is the most common oral giant cell lesion. It normally presents as a soft tissue purplish-red nodule consisting of multinucleated giant cells in a background of mononuclear stromal cells and extravasated red blood cells. This lesion probably does not represent a true neoplasm, but rather may be reactive in nature, believed to be stimulated by local irritation or trauma, but the cause is not certainly known.
This present case occured in a 62 year old female who presented to her dentist with a polypoid mass approximately 2 cm in diameter arising from the mucosa between the right upper second molar and first premolar teeth. Poor oral hygiene was present and numerous carious teeth can be seen in the photograph.
Histologically the lesion exhibited numerous giant cells with areas of osseous metaplasia. There was no evidence of atypia or malignancy identified.
The patient had the lesion totally excised and on subsequent follow-up no residual lesion was present.