Reparative giant cell granuloma of the maxilla

Giant cell reparative granuloma accounts for 1-7% of all benign lesions of the jaw. It often arises in the maxilla followed by mandible and affects children and young adults. It is usually a slow-growing lesion. The fast growing lesions are rare and despite the innocent histological appearance, has an aggressive behavior mimicking a malignant lesion. In the present report, the clinical features, diagnosis, and surgical treatment of an unusually large aggressive variety of reparative giant cell granuloma found in the cheek with extensions into maxilla, antrum, and infratemporal region in a 23-year-old female is described. The impact of delay in correct diagnosis on massive enlargement of the lesion, the importance of computed tomography-guided biopsy in the diagnosis of such inaccessible lesions, and the role of a general dentist in the early detection are also emphasized.