GIANT CELL TUMOR OF BONE: HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS AND A FEW CASES WITH UNUSUAL PRESENTATION.

Abstract

Introduction: Giant cell tumor of bone involves the epiphysis of long bones  commonly. Axial skeleton is the rare site for the tumor. Metastasis of this tumor is very rare which is seen in lungs, lymph nodes and liver. It is extremely rare to find metastasis in the occipital bone.

Material and method: A retrospective study of giant cell tumor of bone was done over a period of two years. We found a total of 65 cases in the study period. Each case was analysed according to age, sex and site.

Result: A total of 65 cases were studied in two year period. Most of the cases (49.23%) were seen in the third decade and had a little female predilection (55.38%). The most common location in our study was around the knee (70.77%) followed by distal radius and proximal humerus. We also had two cases involving  rare location i.e. C7 vertebra and temporal bone. Interestingly one of our cases also presented with pulmonary metastasis followed by occipital bone metastasis six and twenty year after primary tumor respectively. 

Conclusion: Giant cell tumor of bone is a tumor of epiphysis of long bones but can be found in other parts of  other bones too. It is a benign tumor but has the potential for distal metastasis so follow up of  the patients is required especially in case of primary tumor of upper limbs.

Keywords: Giant cell tumor, Rare location, Skull metastasis.