Use of short implants for functional restoration of the mandible after giant cell tumor removal. Case report.

The giant cell tumor of the jaws is a rare benign lesion, it has a slow and progressive evolution and it is locally aggressive. Its etiopathogenesis is unknown, it is most common in the mandible and it is often asymptomatic but pain arises from palpation of the area. Diagnosis is made by radiological and histological examination and surgical treatment is necessary. The clinical case of a 28-year-old man affected by a giant cell tumor of the mandible with an aggressive clinical and radiographical behaviour is reported. The patient showed a jaw swelling covered by hyperemic fibro-mucous tissue from tooth 4.6 to 3.4, absence of cortical bone and mobility of teeth. He also reported lip anesthesia. The giant cell tumor diagnosis was made with orthopantomography (OPT), computed tomography (CT) and needle biopsy. The lesion was surgically removed and histological examination confirmed the diagnosis. In spite of the wide loss of bony substance after surgery, the patient was provided with an implant supported fixed prosthesis without previous bone graft. In this case short implants allowed the prosthetic rehabilitation of a mandible with severe ''resorption'' due to surgical removal of a tumor. Implants were placed in the residual bone volume and successfully used to support a fixed prosthesis. The final result is optimal as is the quality of life of the young patient.