Quantitative analysis of argyrophilic nuclear organizer regions in giant cell lesions of jaws

BACKGROUND: Giant cell lesions of the jaws are considerably similar according to histopathologic characteristics yet show different clinical behaviors. These lesions include central giant cell granuloma (CGCG), aneurysmal bone cyst, Cherubism, and Brown tumor associated with hyperparathyroidism. The present study aimed to investigate AgNORs count in these lesions as a proliferative marker and to determine whether it can be used to discriminate between them or not. METHODS: Forty-one cases of giant cell lesions of jaws were retrived from Oral Pathology Department (1987-2007). They included 21 cases of CGCG, eight cases of aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC), six cases of Cherubism, six cases of Brown tumor. The mean AgNORs count was calculated for all cases. To compare mean AgNORs in groups of lesions, ANOVA test was performed. RESULTS: Mean AgNOR counts were: (0/85 +/- 0/29) in CGCG, (0/76 +/- 0/32) in ABC (0/87 +/- 0/10) in Cherubism and (0/82 +/- 0/16) in Brown tumor. A significant difference was not observed in AgNOR counts among these groups of lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Jaws giant cell containing lesions have no acceptable differences in mean AgNORs.