Central giant cell granuloma of the mandibular condyle: a case report, literature review, and discussion of treatment

Benign and malignant neoplasms of the temporomandibular joint are uncommon. Their presence poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians. The central giant cell granuloma is a relatively common lesion of the jaws; however, it has been reported rarely to originate from the mandibular condyle. To date, only 5 such cases have been documented. We report a case of a large central giant cell granuloma of the condylar head with extension into the infratemporal fossa in a 29-year-old male. The patient was treated with resection and reconstruction using a costochondral graft. The signs, symptoms, and radiographic features are described and compared with the previous reports in the literature. The therapeutic options detailed in the literature have been focused mainly on lesions occupying the dentate regions of the maxilla and mandible. As such, we will review the surgical and pharmacologic options available to the surgeon and discuss their appropriateness with regard to this unique presentation of the central giant cell granuloma.