Central Giant Cell Granuloma of the Jaws: Correlation between Vascularity and Biologic Behavior

Abstract

Introduction: Giant cell lesions of the bone comprise a group of jaw bone pathologies. Different pathogeneses such as reactive, vascular or neoplastic have been proposed for these lesions. In addition, differentiating between aggressive and nonaggressive central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) of the jaws based on histopathologic features is still impossible and due to different treatment protocols for the two groups, correct diagnosis is necessary. The purpose of this study was to compare the expression of CD34 between aggressive and nonaggressive CGCGs of the jaws. Methods & Materials: This retrospective study was carried out on 16 paraffin blocks in each aggressive and nonaggressive CGCGs group. The expression of CD34 was evaluated with immunohistochemical technique. Afterwards, t-test was used for quantitative evaluation and comparison of CD34 expression among the two groups. Eventually, statistical analysis was performed using Spss20 software. Significance was assigned at p < 0.05. Results: In the present study, the average age of patients in aggressive and nonaggressive groups was 20.93±8.08 and 26.18±16.97, respectively. In both groups, female predilection was observed. Mandible was the most common site of involvement in the aggressive group and the distribution of nonaggressive lesions was equal between both jaws. Although the expression of CD34 in the aggressive group was higher than the nonaggressive group, no statistically significant difference was seen (p=0.15). Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, it appears that CD34 protein cannot be used for identifying the clinical behavior of CGCGs.

Keywords: Central Giant Cell Granuloma, CD34, Immunohistochemistry, Vascularity, Aggressive, Nonaggressive.

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Atarbashi Moghadam S, Ghorbanpour M. Central Giant Cell Granuloma of the Jaws: Correlation between Vascularity and Biologic Behavior. J Dent Mater Tech 2017; 6(1): 35-39.

Introduction

The term giant cell lesion (GCL) defines a group of intraosseous nonodontogenic benign lesions with multinucleated giant cells (GCs). Several entities in the jaws can share this histology, including hyperparathyroidism, cherubism and the central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) (1).

Central giant cell granuloma is accepted as a non-neoplastic lesion but some of them demonstrate aggressive behavior similar to that of a neoplasm (2). Controversy exists over the histogenesis of CGCG of the jaws and various theories have been proposed for this lesion. Some believe that it represents a reactive nature while others believe in a neoplastic process (3). Another theory is the vascular hypothesis, which suggests that CGCG belongs to the spectrum of mesenchymal proliferative vascular primary jaw lesions (4-6).

Most CGCGs of the jaws occur in females below the age of 30. Approximately 70% of CGCGs arise in mandible and frequently in the anterior segments of the jaws (2). Based on the given clinical and radiographic features, CGCGs could best be categorized as aggressive or nonaggressive type (7). The aggressive form has three features out of the following five criteria: rapid growth, root resorption, tooth displacement, cortical bone thinning or perforation. Additionally, a CGCG greater than 5 cm and/or recurring after enucleation and curettage is classified as aggressive. Hence, a nonaggressive lesion is often asymptomatic, grows slowly and has a lower rate of recurrence (7). As yet, there are no reliable histologic or molecular methods to differentiate aggressive from nonaggressive lesions (8).

Histologically, these lesions are characterized by presence of numerous multinucleated giant cells in a fibrocellular stroma of ovoid to spindle-shaped mononuclear cells (MCs). Foci of hemorrhage with hemosiderin pigment and newly formed osteoid or bone are occasionally observed (9).

CD34 is a member of a family of transmembrane sialomucin proteins expressed in early hematopoietic and vascular-associated tissues. This protein functions as a cell-cell adhesion factor (10). CD34 is a known endothelial cell marker in vascular beds of both normal tissues and neoplasms (8, 10). The human gene which encodes this protein is CD34 gene (11). Staining of endothelial cells for CD34 was used to evaluate the microvessel density (MVD) (12). In situ quantification of MVD by immunohistochemistry is a routine process to assess angiogenesis in different types of neoplasias (13).

The purpose of this study was to compare the expression of CD34 between aggressive and nonaggressive CGCGs of the jaws to investigate possible role of vascular pathogenesis in biologic behavior of these lesions.

Materials and Methods

Study population

This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on paraffin blocks of patients with histopathologic diagnosis of CGCG of the jaws. These samples were collected from the archive of Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, from 2000 to 2013. GCLs from patients with cherubism, hyperparathyroidism and all cases with incomplete or unavailable clinical, radiographic or pathologic records and inadequate tissue for sectioning and staining were excluded. All slides were verified by an oral and maxillofacial pathologist to confirm the diagnosis.

Demographic and clinical data

Patient records were reviewed independent of the histologic findings. Clinical data included in the study were age at diagnosis, gender, location of lesion, presence or absence of pain, expansion, root resorption, tooth mobility or displacement, cortical thinning, perforation,size of the lesion and recurrence. According to the Chuong and Kaban classification system (7), two groups were defined for CGCGs: 1) aggressive 2) nonaggressive (2, 8). Ultimately, 16 aggressive CGCGs and 16 nonaggressive CGCGs were studied.

Immunohistochemistry

Paraffin-embedded blocks of the specimens were obtained. Sections of 4µm thickness were cut and mounted on silicone coated glass slides. Sections were dewaxed in xylene and rehydrated in graded ethanol. Endogenous peroxidase activity was blocked by immersion of specimens in 0.5% hydrogen peroxide for 5 minutes followed by 2 washes in phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS) for 5 minutes each. Slides were immersed in deionized water and then rinsed in PBS. Prior to staining with CD34, antigen retrieval techniques were applied. Sections were then incubated in a temperature specified for the marker with the primary antibody and for a specified duration: CD34 protein-prediluted (Monoclonal mouse Anti-Human anti-CD34, Clone: QBend 10, Denmark, Dako). This was followed by 2 washes in PBS, incubation with a secondary antibody (Envision Plus; Dako) and 2 PBS rinses. Sections were then visualized with DAB (3, 3’-diaminobenzidine) and counterstained with hematoxylin and coverslipped.

We used a pyogenic granuloma specimen as positive control to confirm binding of antibodies to CD34. For negative control, slides were stained with omission of the primary antibody.

Quantification of immunohistochemistry

 Immunostained sections were assessed and quantified by two investigators blinded to the clinical data for each case. In each sample, three areas of most prominent vascular density (hot spots) were identified and microvessel counting was done under × 200 magnification. Then the mean of three random fields (MVD) were calculated (8).

Statistical analysis

Student’s t-test was used for quantitative evaluation and to compare the expression of CD34 between the two groups. Then, statistical analyses were performed using SPSS V.20 software. Significance was assigned at p < 0.05.

Results

Clinical Findings

From all cases of central giant cell granuloma from 2000 to 2013, in the archive of department of oral pathology, Shahid Beheshti University, sixteen cases were retrieved from each group of aggressive and nonaggressive lesions.

Table 1 illustrates the age and gender of patients and the location of lesions in the two groups.

The average age of patients in aggressive and nonaggressive CGCG groups were 20.93±8.08 and 26.18±16.97 (mean ±SD), respectively. In both groups, female predilection was seen. The most common site of involvement in the aggressive group was mandible. Interestingly, in the nonaggressive group, the frequency of lesions between the two jaws was equal. In comparing age, gender and location between the two groups, no statistically significant difference was shown (Table 1).

Immunohistochemical Findings

Table 2 shows the data about the number of vessels stained. Endothelial cells within all specimens including both aggressive and nonaggressive CGCGs showed immunoreactivity to this marker; however, the extent of staining was different. In this study the average number of stained vessels within the aggressive group was higher than nonaggressive category; however, t-test analysis comparing the two groups showed no statistically significant difference (p=0.15). Figure 1 and 2 demonstrates the cytoplasmic expression of CD34 in endothelial cells of nonaggressive and aggressive CGCG, respectively.