Abstract
Giant Cell Tumor of bone (GCT) is a benign but aggressive tumor, which forms about 4–5% of primary bone tumors and 1–2% of all chest wall tumors. It arises in the epiphysis of bones. The epiphysis of a rib is in its head and tubercle posteriorly and hence a GCT arising in a rib’s anterior aspect, its diaphysis, is rare. In this unusual position, it can be mistaken for other more common diaphyseal pathologies. Radiological images are often diagnostic. A needle biopsy is best avoided and a wide excision biopsy is the treatment of choice. Microscopically, multinucleated giant cells are seen amidst stromal cells. Giant cells like these are also seen in other diseases like the brown tumor of primary hyperparathyroidism. Giant cell lesions are never caused by secondary hyperparathyroidism. We present a case of a diaphyseal GCT of rib in a patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism who was successfully treated.
References
Dehghan A, Moaddab AH, Eskandarlou M, Moeeni A. Anterior chest wall giant cell tumor. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2010;58:39–41.
Dahlin DC, Cupps RE, Johnson Jr EW. Giant-cell tumor: a study of 195 cases. Cancer. 1970;25:1061–70.
Coley BL, Higinbotham NL, Kogure T. Giant cell tumor of bone. Am J Surg. 1958;96:479–91.
Gupta V, Mittal R. Giant cell tumor of rib–rare location on the anterior aspect. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2000;120:231–2.
Sabanathan S, Salama FD, Morgan WE, Harvey JA. Primary chest wall tumors. Ann Thorac Surg. 1985;39:4–15.
Rashid M, Abbas SZ, Ahmad I, Haque F, Shadab F. Giant cell tumour of the anterior arc of a rib presenting as a breast lump: a case report. Acta Orthop Belg. 2007;73:541–3.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gnanamuthu, B.R.D., George, R., Pandya, N.R. et al. An unusual tumor of rib diaphysis—report of a giant cell tumor and a brief review of literature. Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 28, 136–139 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-011-0113-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-011-0113-5