Giant cell tumor of the rib

We experienced a rare case of giant cell tumor (GCT) arising in the 5^th rib involving the 5^th vertebral body and transverse process. A 57-year-old man presented with a well-defined mass in the left thoracic cavity on chest x ray examination. Chest computed tomography showed a heterogeneous 7cm-diameter mass originating in the posterior segment of the left 5^th rib. The tumor had spread to the 5^th thoracic vertebra destroying the left half of the body and transverse process. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a heterogeneous-intensity mass involving the 4^th to 6^th ribs. A radical excision of the tumor followed by a 50 Gy radiotherapy was performed after embolization of the feeding arteries. The pathological diagnosis was a GCT. The patient remains well without evidence of recurrence for 6 years following surgery. The present case is only the 14^th case of GCT arising in the rib to have been reported in Japan.     

Giant cell tumor of the rib

In a rare case of a giant cell tumor of rib origin, a 25-year-old woman to be evaluated for an abnormal mass shadow in chest radiography was strongly positive in a tuberculin skin test, but showed no evidence of active tuberculosis. Chest computed tomography showed a heterogeneous mass originating in the posterior end of the right fourth rib and containing multiple calcifications and cystic lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a high signal intensity with low signal intensity areas. Bone scintigraphy showed an abnormal marked accumulation at the tumor site. A thoracoscopic examination was conducted prior to complete tumor resection, including the fourth rib and related muscles. The pathological diagnosis returned was a giant cell tumor of the bone. The patient did not undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and remains well, and tumor-free at 6 months after surgery.     

Giant cell tumor of the rib

In a rare case of a giant cell tumor of rib origin, a 25-year-old woman to be evaluated for an abnormal mass shadow in chest radiography was strongly positive in a tuberculin skin test, but showed no evidence of active tuberculosis. Chest computed tomography showed a heterogeneous mass originating in the posterior end of the right fourth rib and containing multiple calcifications and cystic lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a high signal intensity with low signal intensity areas. Bone scintigraphy showed an abnormal marked accumulation at the tumor site. A thoracoscopic examination was conducted prior to complete tumor resection, including the fourth rib and related muscles. The pathological diagnosis returned was a giant cell tumor of the bone. The patient did not undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and remains well, and tumor-free at 6 months after surgery.     

Giant cell tumor of the first rib: a rare case report

We report a case of 24?years old female, student by occupation who presented with left upper chest swelling for 6?months, chest pain and breathing difficulty for 1?month of duration .She was thoroughly examined and properly investigated. Swelling was about 5?×?5?cm. in size and presented below the clavicle on left side of the chest. Her x- ray chest and computed tomography scan of the thorax. They were suggestive of large tumour arising from the anterior arc of the first rib. Computed tomography guided Fine needle aspiration cytology confirmed it to be a giant cell tumour (osteoclastoma) of the first rib. She underwent resection of the tumour along with adjacent part of the ribs. After 6?months of regular follow up, she had no complaint and no disease progression.     

Giant cell tumor of the capitate

Giant cell tumors are primary bone tumors most often observed in the metaepiphyses of long bones; location in the hand, especially the carpal bones, is rare. We report a patient with recurrent giant cell tumor of the capitate and discuss treatment and prognosis in this rare site.     

Giant cell tumor of the skull

A 23 year-old female had a giant cell tumor originating in the right temporal bone. A diagnosis was maed by biopsy. Microscopically it was sarcomatous in part. Two courses of radiation therapy, each total dose being 6000 rads and 3000 rads in air, were employed with good subjective response for a short duration. However, the tumor involving the petrous bone and the mastoid process extended, invading the epipharynx and the clivus. The patient died one year after onset.     

Giant cell tumor of the spine

Giant cell tumors are benign but locally aggressive neoplasms that typically affect the extremities. When involving the spine, the tumors occur predominantly in the sacrum. Gross total resection of the tumor with wide margins yields good results in terms of survival. However, it carries a significant potential for morbidity and disability. Subtotal resection with adjuvant radiation carries a risk for recurrence or, more concerning, sarcomatous malignant transformation. Endovascular tumor embolizations have also been attempted to control unresectable tumors, and have been performed with moderate degrees of success. Outcomes are analyzed outcomes following surgery, radiation therapy, and tumor embolization.     

Giant cell tumor of the capitate

A case of giant cell tumor of the capitate is presented. Its recurrence and the problem of reconstruction after resection are discussed. Recommended treatment of this tumor if it occurs within the carpals is resection of the carpus with intercarpal arthrodesis if the distal row is involved or proximal row carpectomy if the scaphoid or lunate is involved.     

Giant cell tumor of the spine

Six patients with giant cell tumor of the spine had surgery between 1981 and 1995. Three lesions were located in the scrum, two lesions were in the thoracic spine, and one lesion was in the lumbar spine. Preoperatively, all patients had local pain and neurologic symptoms. Two patients had cement implanted after curettage or intralesional excision of the sacral tumor; one patient had a local relapse. After the second curettage and cement implantation, the tumor was controlled. One patient with a sacral lesion had marginal excision and spondylodesis; no relapse developed. Two patients with thoracic lesions had planned marginal excision and spondylodesis; the margins finally became intralesional, but no relapse developed. One patient with a lumbar lesion had incomplete removal of the tumor and received postoperative irradiation. At the final followup (median, 69 months), five of six patients were disease-free and one patient died of disease progression. Two of the five surviving patients had pain after standing or neurologic problems. Although some contamination occurred, planning a marginal excision of the lesion seems beneficial for vertebral lesions above the sacrum. Total sacrectomy of a sacral lesion seems to be too invasive when cement implantation can control the lesion.     

Giant cell tumor of the sternum

A primary giant cell tumor (GCT) originating from the sternum is extremely rare. We report a case of a GCT originating from the sternum in a 45-year-old man who was referred to us for a mass in the anterior chest wall that had been growing slowly. Computed tomography revealed a soft tissue mass involving a large osteolytic and destructive lesion of the sternum body. Subtotal sternectomy and reconstruction with methylmethacrylate were performed. The tumor was 8.5 × 4.5 × 2.5?cm, and the histopathological examination confirmed GCT. Radical wide resection of primary sternum tumors and reconstruction with an appropriately rigid prosthetic material are necessary to minimize local recurrence.     

Giant cell tumor of the skull

Two cases of giant cell tumor of the skull are reported. The first patient had a radical operation for a giant cell tumor of the temporal base followed by radiation therapy. The second patient had a partial removal of a giant cell tumor of the occipital bone followed by radiation therapy. The pertinent literature on giant cell tumors originating from the cranial bones other than the sphenoid bone is reviewed.     

Giant cell tumor of bone

Giant cell tumor GCT of bone remains a difficult and challenging management problem because there are no absolute clinical, radiographic, or histologic parameters that accurately predict the tendency of any single lesion to recur or metastasize. Enneking's and Campanacci's radiographic classifications and surgical staging are helpful in planning the initial surgical treatment, because they have observed that a number of the active (Stage 2) lesions and most of the aggressive (Stage 3) lesions have a higher incidence of local recurrence when treated by curettage alone. The bad reputation of curettage and bone grafting is undeserved and arose because of the indiscriminate application of this technique to lesions irrespective of their surgical stage. The ideal aim in the management of GCT is to eradicate the tumor and still save the joint. Curettage, possibly with adjuvant chemical or thermal cauterization, and with bone grafting or polymethyl methacrylate instillation, maintains the structural integrity of the bone and allows for early function. Good results with these techniques when applied to Stage 1 and many Stage 2 lesions may be expected in 70%--80% of the cases. Repetitive freezes with liquid nitrogen, though resulting in a lower recurrence rate, carry with them a not insignificant risk of local complications, require prolonged bracing, and incur the risk of late fracture. When GCTs occur in expendable bones, en bloc resection is the treatment of choice. En bloc resection of major joints requires a facility with reconstruction techniques including the use of allografts, large autogenous grafts and fusion, or custom arthroplasty. These are technically difficult procedures with many early and late complications. Patients have restricted function, and may require prolonged bracing even when uncomplicated. These techniques are therefore reserved for the Stage 3 and selected Stage 2 lesions. Hand lesions have been ineffectively treated by curettage and grafting, and are best treated by early en bloc or ray resection. Multicentric lesions should be handled as individual primary tumors would be in those locations. Radiation therapy has its major role in the treatment of giant cell tumors of the spine and sacrum that are not amenable to complete surgical resection, though long-term sarcomatous change must be looked for. Because of the complex management problem this rare tumor presents, it is recommended that management of giant cell tumor of bone, including the biopsy, the definitive surgery, and the follow-up examination, be carried out by individuals and institutions familiar with this entity.     

Giant cell tumor of bone

This retrospective study analyses 67 patients with 69 giant cell tumors of bone staged according to the Surgical Staging System of benign and malignant lesions of Enneking (1980, 1986). A significant correlation between Stage 2 and Stage 3 benign lesions in respect to local recurrence as well as between the therapeutic procedures and recurrence was found. Intralesional excision with temporary acrylic cement implantation showed to be the preferable initial treatment of these tumors. Special attention to surgical staging, surgical techniques and a supervised rehabilitation program minimize the incidence of recurrence and at the same time giving am maximum of joint function.