Introduction
Peripheral giant cell granuloma also called peripheral giant cell epulis is a well circumscribed lesion, the exact cause of which is unknown, but it is thought to be caused by local irritation due to trauma, periodontal disease, poor dental restoration, ill fitting dental appliances, chronic infection, plaque, calculus etc.1 It occurs as a soft, exophytic firm bright nodule generally confined to alveolar and gingival mucosa.2 Mandible is more commonly affected than maxilla.3 The age range of the patients in this lesion is from 40-60 years of age and has a slight female predilection.4 Although peripheral giant cell granuloma resembled closely to the central giant cell granuloma however some researchers believed it to be a soft tissue counterpart of central bony lesion.5 Thus, immunohistochemical study plays a very important role to clarify the features of osteoclasts in Peripheral giant cell granuloma.6
Case Report
A 40-year old male patient reported to the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with the chief complaint of a painless, gingival overgrowth in lower right back tooth region of jaw since 1 year. There was no history of trauma, burning sensation or pain. No swelling was evident on extra oral examination. On intra oral examination, an erythematous gingival growth was evident in the right mandibular posterior region extending anterioposteriorly from 45 to 47 region, measuring approximately 3x2cm in size(Figure 1). On palpation, the growth was firm in consistency and had tendency to bleed on brushing and mastication. CBCT revealed slight alteration in trabecular pattern and residual alveolar bone loss with respect to 45,46 region, caries with respect to 47 as well as widening of periodontal space, discontinuity of lamina dura and diffuse periapical radiolucency in relation to 47(Figure 2).
We went in for the routine blood investigations of the patient, which were all within normal limits. Complete excisional biopsy of the growth was planned under local anaesthesia. Lesion was separated with the help of blunt dissection from adjacent mucosa.(Figure 3) The overlying mucosa was undermined and incised. The growth was removed in toto. (Figure 4) along with the extraction of 47(Figure 5 ) Primary closure was achieved using 3-0 mersilk suture(Figure 6) and excised growth was sent for histopathological examination.
Histopathology
Histopathological examination revealed superficial epithelium and underlying connective tissue. Superficial epithelium was stratified squamous keratinized in nature and exhibits features of mild hyperplasia. Underlying connective tissue revealed chiefly dense collagenous and composed of numerous blood capillaries, giant cells and chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate (Figure 7).
Discussion
Peripheral giant cell granuloma is basically a vascularised, benign, hyperplastic lesion consisting a large number of giant cells and mononuclear cell infiltrate. These multinucleated giant cells are basically osteoclasts which causes bone resorption.7 According to Motamedi et al., this lesion is more commonly seen in mandible, usually posterior to canines. The consistency of the lesion is related to the age of the lesions because as time progresses, there is increase in number of collagen fibres, the consistency of the lesion becomes firm and maturation occurs.8 The lesion clinically is characterized by presence of soft nodular mass that is reddish-blue in color. It is usually painless but can become painful secondary to any infection. It represents as a sessile or pedunculated lesion.9 The radiographic features are usually non specific. However, sometimes superficial destruction of alveolar margin or crest of interdental bone may be seen when the granuloma is associated with the teeth. In our case, radiographic examination revealed loss of crestal bone and widening of periodontal ligament space. The differential diagnosis of peripheral giant cell granuloma includes pyogenic granuloma, fibrous epulis, peripheral ossifying fibroma, inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia, peripheral odontogenic fibroma etc, all of which present similar clinical and radiographic findings. Hence, definitive diagnosis can only be established in such cases by histopathological examination.10
Histopathologically Peripheral Giant Cell Examination presents with numerous young fibroblasts, vascularised fibro cellular stroma with numerous capillaries and abundant multinucleated giant cells.11 Giant Cell Granuloma is basically of two types: Central and Peripheral.Central Giant Cell Granuloma occurs within bone and Peripheral Giant Cell Granuloma occurs in gingival or alveolar process.12 This lesion can involve adjacent cortical bone and penetrate interdentally leading to the separation of adjacent teeth as its growth potential is high.13 Willing et al. found that variety of cytokines and differentiation factors including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP1), osteoclasts differentiation factor(ODF) and macrophage colony stimulating factor(M-CSF)are secreted by the stromal cells. These molecules causes the osteoblastic differentiation which suggests that the stromal cells stimulates the blood monocyte immigration into the tumour cells which further leads to their fusion to form multinucleated giant cells.14 Recently membrane bound protein disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) is very importantbim the multinucleation of osteoclasts and macrophage derived giant cells from mononuclear precursor cells.15 In the study conducted by Bio Liu et al., it was found that mRNA expression of newly identified receptor activated of nuclear factor(NF)- Kappa B Ligand (RANK-L) leads to osteoclastogenesis. So RANK, RANK-L, OPG plays an important role in the formation of multinucleated giant cells.16
Conclusion
Early and accurate definitive diagnosis of gingival overgrowth through history, clinical, radiographic and histopathological examination allows conservative management with minimal risk to the adjacent hard tissues. Recommended management of peripheral giant cell granuloma aims at elimination of entire base of growth and along with elimination of local irritating factors as we followed in our case. Various modalities for excision of the lesion includes scalpel, electrocautery, lasers etc. Due to its high growth potential, tendency to cause bone resorption and mobility of the resultant tooth, treatment should include surgical excision of the growth along with the removal of all the etiological factors. Regular follow ups are very essential after surgery to prevent the occurrence of the growth.
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