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Pediatric orthopedist, pediatrician, traumatologist, surgeon

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A giant cell tumor

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Epidemiology
Symptoms
Diagnostics

What do need to examine?
How to examine?
Differential diagnosis
Treatment
Who to contact?

Giant cell tumor (synonyms: osteoclastoma, osteoblastoclastoma) is an extremely rare skeletal neoplasm in childhood with progressive growth and destruction of the metaepiphyses of tubular bones.

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Epidemiology

According to literary data, giant cell tumor accounts for 8.6% of all skeletal neoplasms, and is most often detected at the age of 20-30 years.

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Symptoms osteoclastomas

Typical complaints include joint pain, rapidly developing lameness and contracture.

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Diagnostics osteoclastomas

Radiographs and CT scans reveal a focus of destruction that affects the metaepiphysis of the tubular bone, with signs of destruction of the cortical layer and articular surface, often with prolapse of pathological masses into the joint cavity.

During scintigraphy, both local hypervascularization (on average 130%) and hyperfixation of the radiopharmaceutical (on average 325%) are noted.

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What do need to examine?

Cartilage and bone tissue

Bones

How to examine?

Bone ultrasound

Bone X-rays

Differential diagnosis

The tumor is differentiated from aneurysmal bone cyst and chondroblastoma.

Who to contact?

Oncologist

Treatment osteoclastomas

Treatment of giant cell tumor is surgical - radical resection of the tumor in combination with various options of bone auto- and alloplasty and the use of external fixation devices.

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