Giant Cell Lesions

A giant cell is a mass formed by the union of several distinct cells (usually macrophages) which undergo a defined set of intercellular interactions that ultimately result in a multinucleated cell with a single cytoplasmic compartment. Multinucleated cells are commonly encountered in oral and maxillofacial lesions. Multinucleated giant cells were first reported in tuberculosis granulomas by Rokitansky and Langhans over a century ago. These giant cells are now recognised as a common feature of granulomas induced by birth immunological and non immunological stimuli. Thus they are found in granulomas associated with the immune response to tuberculosis leprosy syphilis and various fungal and parasitic infections as well as granulomas associated with non immune response to toxic agents such as silica beryllium and asbestos and two non toxic agents such as carbon particles plastic beads and iron particles. Recent studies involving many osteoclasts and foreign body giant cells have revealed a number of common factors e.g, vitronectin, an adhesion protein, Dendritic cell specific transmembrane protein (DC- STAMP), a fusion factor and macrophage fusion receptor that contribute to giant cell.