Pain is the most common symptom of GCTs. Swelling and deformity are associated with larger lesions, and spreading to the surrounding soft tissue is common. The incidence of pathological fractures on presentation is 11% to 37% [6].
Giant cell tumor is one of the most common benign bone tumors, occurring in young adults ages 20–40 years with a high recurrence rate and a potential for aggressive behavior. It is most commonly located in the metaphysis or at the epiphysis of femur or tibia.
The most common symptom of a giant cell tumor is pain in the area of the tumor. The patient may also have pain with movement of the nearby joint. This pain usually increases with activity and decreases with rest. The pain is usually mild at first, but gets worse over time as the tumor increases in size.
Giant cell tumors are rarely life-threatening. But they can damage your bones and tissues.
Primary and recurrent giant cell tumor of bone is typically benign; however, rarely giant cell tumor of bone can undergo malignant transformation.
They described three stages that correlate with tumor local aggressiveness and risk of local recurrence, Stage I – latent, Stage II – active, Stage III – aggressive.
The overall prognosis generally is good. However, pulmonary metastases have been cited as the cause of death in 16-25% of reported cases.
Generally a minimum of one week off from work is necessary. If the patient can return to work while wearing a cast and they are allowed to perform light duty they may be able to return to work after one week. The surgery is generally successful and without complications.
The giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB), also known as an osteoclastoma or a myeloid sarcoma, is a benign local aggressive osteolytic neoplasm that primarily affects skeletally mature young adults.
Biopsy. The best way to confirm a diagnosis of giant cell arteritis is by taking a small sample (biopsy) of the temporal artery. This artery is situated close to the skin just in front of your ears and continues up to your scalp.
The giant-cell tumour stromal cells (GCTSC) constitute the neoplastic cells, which are from an osteoblastic origin and are classified based on expression of osteoblast cell markers such as alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin.
Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is benign and typically shows osteolytic changes on x-ray, whereas osteosarcoma is malignant and generally shows osteolytic and osteoblastic mixed images.
The life expectancy of people with temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis) depends on how early it was diagnosed and treated. Most people have an almost normal life expectancy with prompt treatment.
Giant cell tumor of the bone usually affects young adults, 60–70 % of the patients being in the age group of 20–40 years.
There are no known risk factors of giant cell tumor of bone. It generally occurs spontaneously in young adults, between the ages of 20 and 40.
Recent studies on four different types of multinucleated giant cells are presented: giant cells from Mycobacterium-induced granulomas, giant cell tumors of bone, osteoclast formation and function, and foreign body giant cell formation and function.
MULTINUCLEATED giant cells (MGC) are a common feature of granulomas that develop during certain infections, the most prominent example being tuberculosis, or as a consequence of foreign body reactions.
Foreign-body giant cells form when a subject is exposed to a foreign substance. Exogenous substances can include talc or sutures. As with other types of giant cells, epithelioid macrophages fusing together causes these giant cells to form and grow.
Depending on the type of surgical procedure and local presentation of the tumor, the recurrence rate of GCTB could range from 2.5% to 45% [5], [6].
Most giant cell tumors occur at the ends of the long bones of the arms and legs, near a joint (such as the knee, wrist, hip, or shoulder). Most are benign (not cancer) but some are malignant (cancer). Giant cell tumors usually occur in young and middle-aged adults.
However, in most cases metastases were found within three years after the surgical treatment of the initial lesion [30, 31]. Based on the current literature (Table 1), approximately 3% of GCTB metastasizes to lung at certain time points after the confirmed diagnosis of primary GCTB.
While there's currently no cure for GCA, treatment with steroid tablets is very effective and usually starts to work within a few days. Prednisolone is the most commonly used steroid tablet. Steroid tablets slow down the activity of the immune system, and reduce inflammation in blood vessels.
Giant cell tumor of soft tissue is most often between 2 and 4 cm in size, although tumors located in deep soft tissues may be larger than 5 cm. On gross examination, giant cell tumor of soft tissue is a circumscribed, nodular mass with a red-brown or gray cut surface.