Prognostic Significance of Mast Cell Count and Angiogenesis in Central Giant Cell Granulomas of the Jaws

Mast cells (MCs) secrete different angiogenic factors stimulating angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to assess MC count and microvessel density (MVD) in aggressive and non-aggressive central giant cell granulomas (CGCGs) of the jaws.

Sixteen aggressive and 14 non-aggressive paraffin-embedded samples of CGCGs were prepared for immunohistochemical analysis using anti-MC tryptase and anti-CD31 antibodies.

Mean values±SEM (standard error of mean) for MC count and MVD in aggressive and non-aggressive CGCGs were: 7.48±0.84, 3.85±0.51, 5.55±0.89, 3.19±0.61, respectively. All CGCG cases demonstrated MCs. Differences for both MC count and MVD were statistically significant between aggressive and non-aggressive CGCGs (p=0.002 and p=0.045, respectively), i.e. , MC count and MVD were significantly higher in aggressive lesions. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between MC count and MVD in CGCG (r=0.570, p=0.001).

Mast cell count and MVD might be used as prognostic markers of aggressive behavior of CGCGs at the time of initial biopsy. Our findings might postulate that therapeutic strategies against MC mediators and angiogenesis may benefit in aggressive CGCG as a non-surgical modality of treatment. With further studies, their prognostic significance and therapeutic application can be evaluated in patients suffering from aggressive CGCG.