Aggressive giant cell tumour of bone

Faisham WI, Zulmi W, Halim AS, Biswal BM, Mutum SS, Ezane AM
Correspondence: Dr WI Faisham, faisham@kb.usm.my

ABSTRACT
Introduction The surgical treatment of Stage III or aggressive giant cell tumour of the bone, whether to perform intralesional or en-bloc resection, remains controversial. The aim of this study is to identify the effectiveness of en-bloc resection for local control and final oncological outcome of the disease.
Methods The data of 20 consecutive patients with Stage III giant cell tumour were retrospectively reviewed to determine the local control and oncological outcome after treatment with wide resection.
Results The majority of the patients presented late with mean duration of symptoms of 24 months, and four patients presented with recurrences. All patients were treated with wide resection except for two patients who underwent ablative surgery due to major neurovascular involvement. Ten patients required free vascularised tissue transfer to cover massive soft tissue defect. Local recurrence occurred in one patient who was again treated with wide resection and vascularised flap. Six patients had pulmonary metastases. Two patients with resectable disease were treated with thoracoscopic surgery and they remained disease-free 36 months after surgery. Two patients with multiple lung metastases were treated with chemotherapy and the disease remained non-progressive. The remaining two patients who refused chemotherapy showed radiological progression, and one succumbed to the disease with massive haemoptysis.
Conclusion Aggressive giant cell tumour of bone should be treated with wide resection for better local control, and treatment of pulmonary metastases is mandatory for overall prognosis.

Keywords: aggressive giant cell tumour, bone tumours, giant cell tumour, wide resection
Singapore Med J 2006; 47(8): 679-683