Giant Cell Tumor of the Frontal Bone in an 18-Month-Old Girl: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Giant cell tumors (GCT) are benign, but locally aggressive primary bone neoplasms, that frequently occur in the epiphyses of the long bones. Less than 1% of all GCTs primarily involve the skull where they are preferentially seen in the sphenoid and temporal bones. In the pediatric age group they are exceptionally rare.

Case Report: The authors report the management of a GCT involving the frontal bone in an 18-month-old girl. The patient underwent wide surgical excision of the lesion and remains free of clinical and radiological evidence of tumoral recurrence thirty months after treatment.

Conclusion: Although rare, GCTs should be taken into consideration as a differential diagnosis of rapidly enlarging cranial mass lesions in pediatric patients. Gross total surgical excision eliminates the potential risks of adjuvant radiotherapy. However, considering the aggressive nature and potential malignancy of these lesions, careful long-term clinical and imaging follow-up is recommended.

frontal bone - giant cell tumor - pediatric - skull - treatment

References

• 1 Bertoni F, Unni KK, Beabout JW. et al . Giant cell tumor of the skull.  Cancer. 1992;  70 1124-1132
• 2 Bibas-Bonet H, Fauze RA, Lavado MG. et al . Garcin syndrome resulting from giant cell tumor of the skull base in a child.  Pediatr Neurol. 2003;  28 392-395
• 3 Curilovic A, Eich GF, Stallmach T. Giant cell tumor in the skull of a 9-year-old child: immunohistochemistry to confirm a diagnosis rare for age and site.  Pediatr Pathol Lab Med. 1995;  15 769-779
• 4 Elder JB, Berry C, Gonzalez-Gomez I. et al . Giant cell tumor of the skull in pediatric patients.  Report of two cases. J Neurosurg. 2007;  107 ((1 Suppl)) 69-74
• 5 Findlay JM, Chiasson D, Hudson AR. et al . Giant-cell tumor of the middle cranial fossa.  Case report. J Neurosurg. 1987;  66 924-928
• 6 Germano A, Caruso G, Caffo M. et al . Temporal osteoclastoma: an exceptional lesion in infancy.  Childs Nerv Syst. 1998;  14 213-217
• 7 Josan VA, Sgouros S, Walsh AR. et al . Cranioplasty in children.  Childs Nerv Syst. 2005;  21 ((3)) 200-204
• 8 Kashiwagi N, Hirabuki N, Andou K. et al . MRI and CT findings of the giant cell tumors of the skull; five cases and a review of the literature.  Eur J Radiol. 2006;  58 ((3)) 435-443
• 9 Liu JK, Gottfried ON, Cole CD. et al . Porous polyethylene implant for cranioplasty and skull base reconstruction.  Neurosurg Focus. 2004;  16 ((3)) ECP1
• 10 Maloney WJ, Vaughan LM, Jones HH. et al . Benign metastasizing giant-cell tumor of bone.  Report of three cases and review of the literature. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1989;  243 208-215
• 11 Mirra JM. Giant cell tumor (osteoclastoma). In: Mirra JM (ed). Bone Tumors.  Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia. 1989: 119-140
• 12 Reed L, Willison CD, Schochet SS. et al . Giant cell tumor of the calvaria in a child: Case report.  J Neurosurg. 1994;  80 148-151
• 13 Saw S, Thomas N, Gleeson MJ. et al . Giant cell tumour and central giant cell reparative granuloma of the skull: do these represent ends of a spectrum?.  A case report and literature review. Pathol Oncol Res. 2009;  15 ((2)) 291-295
• 14 Sharma RR, Mahapatra AK, Pawar SJ. et al . Craniospinal giant cell tumors: clinicoradiological analysis in a series of 11 cases.  J Clin Neurosci. 2002;  9 ((1)) 41-50
• 15 Sheikh M, Chisti FA, Sinan T. Giant cell tumor of the temporal bone: case report and review of the literature.  Australas Radiol. 1999;  43 113-115
• 16 Silvers AR, Peter S, Brandwein M. et al . The role of imaging in the diagnosis of giant cell tumor of the skull base.  AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1996;  17 1392-1395
• 17 Tanriover N, Ulu MO, Sar M. et al . Anaplastic oligoastrocytoma: previous treatment as a possible cause in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  Childs Nerv Syst. 2007;  23 ((4)) 469-473
• 18 Wolfe JT, Scheithauer BW, Dahlin DC. Giant cell tumor of the sphenoid bone: review of 10 cases.  J Neurosurg. 1983;  59 322-327

Correspondence