ABSTRACT
On time diagnosis of jaw lesions is important to achieve proper treatment plan by dentist, and the way to improve this aim is identifying of epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical characterization of lesions. Giant cell lesions are the group of oral and maxillary lesions which could be destructive. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of oral giant cell lesions in period of 22 years in Shaheed Beheshti University Dental Faculty, Oral Pathology Department. This cross sectional and retrospective study was carried on descriptively on existing data. The study included patient's files with oral giant cell lesions in oral and maxillofacial pathology department in Shaheed Beheshti Dental School during 1981 till 2003. Data were analysed with Excell software by chi-square test. Out of 3390 studied files in period of 22 years, 325 cases [9.5%] were giant cell lesions. The most prevalent lesion was peripheral giant cell granoluma [PGCG] and the prevalent ones were central giant cell granoluma, aneurysmal bone cyst, giant cell tumor and Brown tumor. Prevalence of lesions in female were 58.2% and 41.8% in the male. Radiolucency was the most observed radiographic view. In 44.8% of cases primary clinical diagnosis were correct. The prevalence of oral giant cell lesions was 9.5%. PGCG was the most prevalent. Calculus and dental plaque are the etiological factors of this lesion, which determines that hygienic instructions are the main components of dental performance. On the other hand, 39.3% of the discussed lesions had incorrect clinical diagnosis which emphasized the microscopic evaluation of biopsies for correct diagnostic process of oral giant cell lesions