A Case Report and Update of Giant Cell Fibroma

ABSTRACT A case report and update of giant cell fibroma The giant cell fibroma is a fibrous tumour with a distinctive clinicopathologic features which sets it apart from a conventional fibroma. It represents approximately 2% to 5% of all oral fibrous proliferations submitted for biopsy and is found predominantly in Caucasians and rarely in other races. Most often giant cell fibroma is mistaken for papilloma because of its papillary surface or fibroma because of its fibrous or elastic nature. Here, we report a case of giant cell fibroma, in the region of the incisive papilla, in a 30-year old autistic female. Key words: Giant cell fibroma, fibroma, histopathology, giant cells MUSBED 2014;4(1):58-62 Olgu Sunumu / Case Report INTRODUCTION The giant cell fibroma (GCF) is an interesting non-neoplastic lesion of the oral mucosa. It was first described by Weathers and Callihan in 1974. It was named for its characteristically large, stellate-shaped, mononuclear and multinucleated giant cells. Weathers and Callihan reviewed more than 2000 specimens at Emory University of which 108 specimens met the criteria for reclassification of GCF (1). Before Weathers’ and Callihans’ distinction of GCF, Eversole and Rovin compared and contrasted 279 fibrous hyperplastic gingival lesions, which falls into four categories: pyogenic granuloma, peripheral gingival fibroma, peripheral giant cell granuloma, and peripheral ossifying fibroma. Each has its own diagnostic histopathologic characteristics but exhibit overlap of clinical presentation (2,3). After distinguishing GCF among fibrous hyperplasias, Weathers and Campbell further elucidated the structure of the lesion when they studied them under light microscopy. They concluded again that dominant cells in the GCF were indeed unique, and that GCF merited its own classification (4,5). Giant cell fibroma is a fibrous oral benign asymptomatic pedunculated or sessile nodule less than 1 cm in size, more commonly seen in the mandibular gingiva and the lesion may persist for several years (6,7). The giant cell fibroma is a localized reactive proliferation of fibrous tissue, much like the irritation fibroma. It usually remains small and may have a broad base or be on a thick stalk. It is painless and often has lobules or nodules on its surface. The most characteristic histological feature is the presence of large spindle-shaped and stellate-shaped mononuclear cells and multinucleated cells (4). Very few case reports are seen regarding this tumour and controversy regarding the origin of this lesion continues (8). Here, we report a case of a 30-year old female who had