Frequency of oral and maxillofacial giant cell lesions in Iran in a period of 22-year (1991-2012)

BACKGROUND and AIM: Giant cell lesions as a group of the oral and maxillofacial lesions are common and potentially destructive. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of oral lesions containing giant cells in a 22-year period in Isfahan Dental School, Iran. METHODS: In this epidemiological, cross-sectional, retrospective study the archive information in the Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry between 1991 and 2012 was used. All information obtained from the patients records with giant cell lesions [peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG), central giant cell granuloma (CGCG), aneurysmal bone cyst, and Cherubism and Brown tumor] were analyzed using SPSS, chi-square test and Fisher (P < 0.050). RESULTS: Of the 8217 cases with pathology records, 591 cases (7.1%) were giant cell lesions. The most common lesion was PGCG (68.5%). The prevalence of lesions in the mandible was more than the maxilla (P = 0.039), and also the prevalence of these lesions in woman was slightly more than men (P = 0.078). CONCLUSION: The giant cell lesions were more common in women and in the mandible. They were seen more frequently in the second decade of life. Regards the results of this study, we can prevent PGCG using methods such as improvement of oral hygiene.