Advanced giant cell granuloma: a twenty-year study.

Giant cell granuloma is a benign lesion that generally involves the mandible and maxilla. It may be locally aggressive and result in extensive tissue destruction in advanced cases. A retrospective analysis of giant cell granuloma during the interval 1970 to 1990 revealed 18 cases of advanced disease, as defined by bone destruction and a greatest dimension of 2.0 cm or more. Epidemiologic factors, physical findings, imaging studies, pathologic specimens, treatment modalities, and outcome were reviewed for each case. Eight lesions were treated by local excision and curettage, and 10 were treated by partial mandibulectomy. Five mandibular defects were reconstructed with iliac bone grafts and one with a free flap. Only one patient with maxillary giant cell granuloma who underwent curettage had regrowth of what is suspected to have been residual disease. Individualized treatment, tailoring the extent of resection to the extent of disease, provided excellent results.