OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic characteristics of combined central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) and central ossifying fibroma (COF). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical and histomorphometric analysis of all cases diagnosed as CGCG or COF between 1994 and 2002. RESULTS: A total of 51 cases were included in the study: CGCG (n = 23), COF (n = 25), and combined COF-CGCG (n = 3). All 3 lesions presented expansile, well-defined unilocular radiolucencies, with radiopacities (66%), root resorption (66%) and tooth displacement (33%). Microscopically, areas of classical CGCG and COF were separated by a transition zone of nonvascularized densely packed spindle cells. Surgical procedure resulted in recurrence within 1 year in 1 of 2 patients, calcitonin nasal spray treatment resulted in growth arrest in 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the small number of the combined cases, the biologic behavior of the lesions is uncertain. The CGCG component may drive the clinical behavior toward a more aggressive behavior than classical COF; therefore, close follow-up is recommended.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic characteristics of combined central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) and central ossifying fibroma (COF). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical and histomorphometric analysis of all cases diagnosed as CGCG or COF between 1994 and 2002. RESULTS: A total of 51 cases were included in the study: CGCG (n = 23), COF (n = 25), and combined COF-CGCG (n = 3). All 3 lesions presented expansile, well-defined unilocular radiolucencies, with radiopacities (66%), root resorption (66%) and tooth displacement (33%). Microscopically, areas of classical CGCG and COF were separated by a transition zone of nonvascularized densely packed spindle cells. Surgical procedure resulted in recurrence within 1 year in 1 of 2 patients, calcitonin nasal spray treatment resulted in growth arrest in 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the small number of the combined cases, the biologic behavior of the lesions is uncertain. The CGCG component may drive the clinical behavior toward a more aggressive behavior than classical COF; therefore, close follow-up is recommended.