Giant cell reparative granuloma of the temporal bone: Case report and review of the literature☆,☆☆,★,★★

CASE REPORT

The patient is a 36-year-old woman who presented to our institution in 1990 with a feeling of fullness in her left ear. Physical examination revealed a mass bulging into the anterior aspect of the left external auditory canal. Radiographic studies demonstrated the presence of a lytic lesion in the anterior portion of the left temporal bone. A biopsy specimen of the mass was believed to be consistent with GCRG. An atticotomy and canaloplasty were performed through a left postauricular incision.

DISCUSSION

Since its first description in 1953 the term “giant cell reparative granuloma” has sparked much debate in the literature. The pathogenesis of GCRG was initially thought to be a hyperplastic reparative reaction to intraosseus hemorrhage induced by trauma. ¹ However, a definite history of trauma has not been reliably elicited. 3, 15 Other theories on the pathogenesis of GCRG including infectious ⁷ and developmental ¹² causes have been proposed, but no single theory has gained wide acceptance.

The

CONCLUSION

This was the first description of a recurrent GCRG requiring glenoid fossa reconstruction. The pathologic evaluation clearly indicated the lesion to be GCRG. When clear distinctions can be made on histologic evaluation, we advocate maintaining the current nomenclature of GCRG and GCT. Otherwise, for borderline cases the more general term “giant cell lesion” should be used with further classification as aggressive or nonaggressive based on the symptoms. It is important to recognize that although