Primary malignancy in giant cell tumor: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Primary malignancy in giant cell tumor (PMGCT) is rare. It is defined as a high-grade sarcoma originating in a giant cell tumor (GCT) and seems to behave less aggressively than its secondary counterpart does.


METHODS
This report presents the case of a 39-year-old female with pain in her left shoulder for one month. Radiography showed a pathological fracture of the proximal humerus associated with an osteolytic lesion. Histopathological analysis showed typical areas of GCT juxtaposed with a sarcomatous component.


CONCLUSIONS
PMGCT seems to behave less aggressively than secondary malignancy in GCT, and it may simulate its more common benign counterpart clinically and radiographically. However, it requires a more aggressive type of treatment.
Bispo Júnior
Rosalvo Zósimo
RZ
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. zosimo_jr@yahoo.com.br
Camargo
Olavo Pires de
OP
Ida
Cristiane Marie
CM
Baptista
André Mathias
AM
Ribeiro
Marcelo Barbosa
MB
Bruno
José Marcello
JM
Oliveira
Cláudia Regina Gomes Cardim Mendes de
CR
D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D018212:Giant Cell Tumor of Bone / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography; D012782:Shoulder; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*