 | Routine AP and lateral radiographs demonstrate an osteolytic lesion filling the lateral tibial condyle with little if any reactive bone and extending into the lateral portion of the subchondral cortex, through which a minimally displaced fracture is noted. The initial impression was giant cell tumor of bone.
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 | Core needle biopsy demonstrated soft, friable, reddish brown tissue containing many multinucleated giant cells. Fibroblast like stromal cells appear in the background, with nuclei of about equal size and appearing to be benign, although an occasional mitotic figure can be seen.
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 | The patient was seen in the early 1970's when the recurrence rate was considered to be unacceptably high for such giant cell tumors. Therefore, a wide resection and arthrodesis of the knee was performed. This case is included here because it provided plentiful pathological material.
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 | Laboratory radiograph side by side with the large histosection of the resected specimen. Note the extent of the resection and the subchondral cortex involvement.
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 | This final radiograph shows the solidly arthrodesed knee. The patient remains free of disease over 30 years later, but with a permanently stiff knee. |
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The recommended treatment would be quite different today. Treatment today would be a meticulous thorough curettage through a large bony window and probably cementation or allograft bone chips for reconstruction. Expect a recurrence rate of about 15% or less, and close to normal knee function. |