Human cytomegalovirus in peripheral giant cell granuloma

The peripheral giant cell granuloma is a relatively common non-neoplastic inflammatory lesion of gingiva, but the etiopathogeny remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the importance of human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus in a peripheral giant cell granuloma of a 47-year-old female.

The lesion was studied clinically, histopathologically, immunologically and virologically using established procedures.

The gingival growth was located at the mesial surface of the maxillary left canine having a vital pulp. The mass was 12 x 21 mm in size and exhibited a smooth surface with no evidence of fluctuation on palpation. An excisional biopsy revealed giant cells in a fibrohistiocytic stroma with areas of haemorrhage. Serum protein levels and lymphocyte subsets were within normal limits, except CD3(+) and CD4(+) cells were below normal ranges. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes expressed p150,95 (CD11c/CD18) and CXCR-2 receptors within normal ranges, but the CXCR1 receptor showed decreased density, and CD15 were below normal range. A virological sample of the tooth surface adjacent to the gingival swelling yielded 7.6 x 10(3) copy-counts of cytomegalovirus and 4.3 x 10(3) copy-counts of Epstein-Barr virus.

The clinical and histological findings were consistent with the diagnosis of peripheral giant cell granuloma. Cytomegalovirus has the potential to induce multinucleated giant cells, and the possibility that the virus contribute to the development of peripheral giant cell granuloma merits further study.