Quantification of bone gain in central giant cell granuloma of the jaws submitted to intralesional corticotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: The central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) is a bone alteration of unknown etiology that can affect the jaws and presents varied clinical behavior. Objective: To analyze radiographs from patients with CGCG submitted to intralesional corticosteroids, in order to quantify bone gain after treatment. Methods: Sixteen patients with the microscopic diagnosis of CGCG were selected from the Batista Memorial Hospital, in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Thirty-two radiographs (16 initial and 16 final) were evaluated by the mean pixel values of the affected region before and after the complete corticosteroid intralesional application protocol (six applications in biweekly intervals of triamcinolone hexacetonide). Results: Of the patients submitted to the study, 14 (87.5%) presented a mean increase in the values of pixels, understood as bone gain, in the radiographs after treatment with intralesional injections, and two (12.5%) did not present it. The comparison of the mean pixel values between the initial and final test sides showed p = 0.0027, which was statistically significant, confirming the increase in density in the studied regions. Conclusion: The tools for analysis of pixel values were useful in the quantification of bone gain in patients submitted to intralesional corticosteroid therapy, and these tools should be further explored and used during treatment as auxiliary methods in the evaluation of its efficacy.