A case report on aggressive giant cell tumor of greater trochanter: a divergent site

Abstract

Abstract Background Giant cell tumor is a tumor of benign nature which usually arises in the long bone, but it can also be seen at unusual sites. Only few cases have been reported so far regarding involvement of greater trochanter of the femur as it is a very divergent site for giant cell tumors; our case is one of them. Giant cell tumors are seen in 20–40 years of age in the metaepiphyseal regions of the long bones. If femur has to be involved, it is in the distal end usually. Case presentation We present a case of a 45-year-old female with chief complains of swelling and left hip pain since over a month. Magnetic resonance imaging was done where the location and extent of the tumor was found. What makes this case interesting is that on fine needle aspiration cytology the lesion showed multinucleated giant osteoclasts in the background of osseous matrix of spindle cells suggesting Giant cell tumor. Conclusion It is sometimes tricky to make a diagnosis of these lesions on imaging as the typical features may not be present, and hence, in such circumstances helping the clinicians with additional information like location, extent, margins is of utmost importance.

Keywords

• Aggressive giant cell tumor
• MR imaging
• Osteoclastoma
• X-ray
• Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC)