Can Giant Cell Tumor of the Bone Occur in the Skeletally Immature?

Abstract

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of the bone is a benign, locally aggressive neoplasm that has a high tendency for local recurrence. It usually has a higher incidence in the third decade of life. This is a retrospective review of a case with histologic confirmation of GCT in a skeletally immature patient involving the metatarsal bone, which is a rare site. At our institution, 1.3% of skeletally immature patients had GCT of the bone. From an extensive literature review, only four cases of GCT of the metatarsal bone in the skeletally immature were identified. Giant cell tumor in a skeletally immature patient can be confused for an aneurysmal bone cyst because of similar radiologic findings. Giant cell tumor of the bone can occur in an immature skeleton and should be sought out as a differential diagnosis despite being rare.