Evaluation of the aggressiveness of peripheral giant cell lesion of the oral cavity by means of a hystochemical-immunohystochemical study

Purpose: To study the aggressiveness of peripheral giant cell lesion (PGCL) using hystochemical-immunohystochemical analysis. Methods: The archives of the Dental School of Aracatuba (FOA-UNESP) and the University of Passo Fundo Dental School (FOUPF) were searched. A total of 181 PGCL cases were retrieved, and 61 met the study eligibility criteria. Firstly, the PGCL aggressiveness was graded, and the lesions were distributed into three groups based on clinical and radiographic findings. The 61 LCGPs hystopathological samples were colored by H.E. and analyzed for diagnostic confirmation. Afterwards, the cellular proliferation of 15 PGCLs cases was investigated by means of counting and calibrating of AgNORs (nucleolar organizer regions) area and evaluation of the immunoexpression of PCNA, Ki-67, and p53 markers. Results: No difference was found for AgNOR area and PCNA expression among PGCLs of the three studied groups, and p53 was not an effective immunomarker of the analyzed lesions. There was a statistically significant difference of AgNORs number and Ki-67 expression among the three groups. Conclusion: The AgNOR and Ki-67 results suggest that the PGCL clinical-radiographic aggressiveness can be related to its cellular proliferative activity. Key words: Giant cell peripheric lesion; diagnosis; silver staining; immunohystochemistry