57 Central Giant Cell Granuloma: An Overview of Multinucleated Giant Cell Lesions of the Bone Surgical Pathology II No. SPII 08-3 (SPII-319)

The clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings of a central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) arising in the mandible are depicted. CGCG is a relatively uncommon, benign, cystic, intraosseous lesion that was first described in 1953. Multinucleated giant cells are a prominent feature of this bone lesion. Important issues of CGCG with regard to diagnostic histopathology, differential diagnosis, and clinicopathologic correlation are discussed. The current knowledge about its pathogenesis and treatment is presented. Because multinucleated giant cells can be an important diagnostic clue in a number of osseous lesions, bone lesions with multinucleated giant cells as a diagnostically important component are reviewed, and their diagnostic features are listed. Pathologists examining a bone lesion featuring multinucleated giant cells need to be aware of the spectrum of these entities.