Fine needle aspiration cytology of central giant cell granuloma of the jaw. A report of two cases.

Two patients with recurrent central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) who underwent fine needle aspiration biopsy are reported. This lesion has a distinct clinicoradiologic profile and occurs almost exclusively in the mandible and/or maxilla of young individuals. The essential cytologic findings included a dual cell population consisting of mononuclear stromal cells and multinucleate giant cells. These features were considered not specific for the diagnosis of CGCG and are identical to those of osteitis fibrosa cystica and giant cell tumor of bone. If the features are taken together with the clinical, radiologic and laboratory data, the diagnosis of CGCG is possible. The utility of osseous fine needle aspiration biopsy and the clinical, radiologic and cytologic findings of bone lesions containing giant cells are discussed.