A clinicopathologic study on 41 cases of giant cell tumor of bone obtained during a
period of 16years from 1968 to 1983 at the Department of Pathology, Seoul National
University Hospital was done. In each case, sex, age, location of tumor, symptom, sign,
roentgenographic findings, histological characteristics and treatment were analyzed. The
28 cases among them were followed for an average of 2.1 years, ranging from 6 months
to 8 years. We compared the prognosis of tumor with aneurysmal bone cyst like area
with the prognosis of tumor without aneurysmal bone cyst like area so as to know the
biological behavior of tumor.
The results were as follows:
1) The tumors were more frequent in females than in males with a female to male
ratio of 3 to 2.
2) The tumors were rare before the age of 20. The tumors were most frequent in the
third decade; about 68 percent of cases occured in the third and fourth decades
combined.
3) 85 Percent of the tumors were located at the epiphysis of long tubular bones of
extremities. The distal femur and proximal tibia accounted for 59% of all tumors.
4) The major symptoms and signs were pain, swelling and limitation of motion about a
joint.
5) None of the tumor showed frank sarcomatous lesion.
6) After primary curettage combined with bone grafting or cementing, 35% tumors
recurred. After primary resection combined with bone grafting, 13% tumors recurred.
Primary amputation was performed in 2 tumors, none of which recurred.
7) Time interval between primary treatment and recurrence was an average of 1.3
years, ranging from 4months to 3 years.
8) There were not significant differences in prognosis between tumors with aneurysmal
bone cyst like area and tumors without aneurysmal bone cyst like area.
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