title: Giant cell tumour in the foot of a skeletally immature girl: a case report.
abstract: We present a case of delayed diagnosis of a benign giant cell tumour (GCT) of the third metatarsal in a skeletally immature girl. The patient underwent en bloc excision of the tumour. The tumour had replaced the third metatarsal and had infiltrated the surrounding soft tissue and the second and fourth metatarsal bases. Deep, lateral and medial margins were all involved. A high index of suspicion is needed when evaluating any tumours of the foot, because the compact structure of the foot may delay diagnosis. Early detection is important for avoiding amputation, as the hindfoot and midfoot are classified as one compartment and radical resection is impossible to achieve. Tumours grow faster in the foot than in other bones. GCT in this location and age-group are rare and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a destructive bony lesion in skeletally immature patients.
authors.affiliation: Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, Ireland. joseph.f.baker@gmail.com
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kiely
authors.forename: Darren F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Stephens
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D018212:Giant Cell Tumor of Bone / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed