Pseudoanaplastic giant cell tumor of bone.
Marked nuclear atypia can be found in a variety of benign mesenchymal tumors, including ancient schwannomas, symplastic leiomyomas, osteoblastomas, and chondromyxoid fibromas. Such nuclear atypia is believed to represent a degenerative phenomenon and does not indicate aggressive behavior. Separation of these pleomorphic but benign lesions from true sarcomas may be difficult. We are aware of only one prior description of such degenerative atypia in benign giant cell tumor of bone. We report a benign giant cell tumor of bone arising in the sacrum of a 21-year-old white female. Preoperative embolization of this lesion had been performed, and subsequent curetting revealed marked atypia suggestive of an anaplastic malignancy. However, only very rare mitotic figures were present, and the radiographs were consistent with a benign giant cell tumor. A diagnosis of benign giant cell tumor was made, and no recurrence or metastases have been observed during the 4-year postoperative period.
Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.
L J
LJ
Layfield
R C
RC
Bentley
J M
JM
Mirra
D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D018212:Giant Cell Tumor of Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed