Indian J Orthop. 2007 Apr-Jun; 41(2): 151–153.

PMCID: PMC2989140
doi: 10.4103/0019-5413.32048

Multicentric giant cell tumor around the knee

Anil Salgia, SK Biswas, Rahul Agrawal, and Vishavdeep Goyal
Department of Orthopaedics, Padmashree Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune - 411 018,
Maharashatra, India
Correspondence: Dr. Anil Salgia, Accident Hospital, Highway Towers, First Floor, Old Mumbai-Pune Highway, Chinchwad, Pune, India. E-
mail: [email protected]

Copyright © Indian Journal of Orthopaedics

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

A case of multicentric giant cell tumor with synchronous occurrence in all three bones around the knee is
reported here in view of its rarity. A 33-year-old average built male reported with complaints of severe
pain, gradually increasing swelling around the right knee. A 3 × 2 cm swelling was present on the lateral
aspect of the distal end of the right femur and a 3 × 3 cm swelling on the proximal part of the right tibia.
Plain X-ray of right knee showed subarticular eccentrically located expansile lytic lesion in the lateral tibia
condyle, lateral condyle of femur and patella. Fine needle aspiration cytology and subsequent histology
ascertained the diagnosis of giant cell tumor of the bone. The patient was treated successfully with
curettage, bone grafting and methyl methacrylate cementing (Sandwich technique).

Keywords: Amputation, arthrodesis, arthroplasty, curettage, giant cell tumor

Giant cell tumor is commonly seen in young adults 20-40 years of age with slight female predominance
and contributes 5% of total primary neoplasms.1 The most common sites are the distal femur, proximal
tibia and distal radius. Giant cell tumors are solitary lesions but rarely 1-2% may be metachronously
multicentric. The synchronous occurrence is further rare. Hence a case of multicentric giant cell tumor of
the bone with synchronous occurrence around the knee is reported.

CASE REPORT

A 33-year-old average built male reported with complaints of severe pain, gradually increasing swelling
around the right knee and inability to bear weight on the right lower limb for last one month following
history of trivial trauma. Pain was continuous, increased in night and was not relieved by rest. Patient had
history of continuous and dull aching pain in the lower limb, used to get relieved by analgesics, for the last
one and a half years. There was no history of fever, vomiting, weight loss, hemoptysis or loss of appetite.
No other bony swelling was present elsewhere in the body.

On examination a swelling of 3 × 2 cm was present on the lateral aspect of the distal end of the right femur
and a 3×3 cm swelling on the proximal part of the right tibia. The skin over the swelling was stretched but
mobile. Local tenderness was present with rise of temperature. There were no subcutaneous dilated veins.
Movements of the right lower limb were not possible due to pain. Hemogram and blood counts were
within normal limits. Acid and alkaline phosphatase and serum calcium were within normal range.

Plain X-ray of right knee showed subarticular eccentrically located expansile lytic lesion in the lateral tibia
condyle, lateral condyle of femur and patella [Figure 1]. The MRI showed subarticular eccentrically
located lesion in the lateral tibial condyle with serpiginous area of altered marrow signal intensity of the
lower end of femur and patella to suggest the possibility of bone infarct and likely to resemble a multifocal
giant cell tumor. The fine needle aspiration cytology done showed giant cell lesion of bone [Figure 2].

Through a lateral para-patellar incision, lesions were explored. Femoral articular surface was found intact.
Tibial articular surface was minimally damaged on its lateral corner. Patellar articular surfaces were not
damaged. All the lesions from the femur, tibia and patella were thoroughly curetted and were chemically
and electrically cauterized with phenol and electric cautery. A tricortical graft (6×4 cm) was harvested
from the left iliac crest. A block of gel foam 5 × 4 × 1 cm was placed underneath the tibial articular surface
in the subchondral area and the harvested bone graft was tailored to be placed below the gel foam and the
remaining bony gap was filled with bone cement (Sandwich Technique). Bone cement was also filled in
the right femoral condyle and patellar lesion after curettage. After saline lavage the wound was closed
[Figures 3A and B].

Postoperative period was uneventful. Non-weight-bearing physiotherapy in the form of knee movements,
quadriceps and hamstring strengthening exercises were started the next day. Partial weight-bearing was
allowed after seven days with hinged long leg knee brace. On the 12th postoperative day sutures were
removed, patient was ambulated with full weight-bearing after three weeks.

On first follow-up after one and a half month, patient showed excellent recovery in the form of quadriceps
and hamstring strength with right knee range of movements from 5° to 110°. Follow up X-ray shows
maintenance of joint space and no recurrence of lesions. Patient was able to bear full weight on the
operated limb. On subsequent follow-up after six months onwards, patient had full range of painless
movements of right knee with no clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence of lesion. Patient has
resumed his job of driving vehicles and is doing all his daily activities without any difficulty.

Patient was reviewed clinically and radiologically one year after surgery and there is no evidence of
recurrence of the lesions in any of the bones. Patient has started his routine activities [Figure 4].

DISCUSSION

Multicentric giant cell tumor occurs more often than solitary lesions in young patients. Incidence of
multicentric giant cell tumor is < 1%. Thirty cases are reported till 2006 of multicentric giant cell tumor.2
Out of them 11 cases (37%) presented with synchronous tumors. Six of these cases involved the knee (the
distal part of the femur and proximal part of the tibia of the same limb.2 In one study, there were 10 lesions
in the same person at presentation.3

But in our case, synchronous occurrence in all three bones - femur, tibia and patella around the knee was
detected, which is a rare occurrence and hence requires reporting. In approximately 1% of cases, it
manifests as multiple synchronous metachronus lesions in single or multiple bones.4–6

When the tumor is large and nearer to the subchondral bone plate, with intact articular cartilage, thorough
curettage and filling the cavity with acrylic cement and tricortical bone graft will preserve cartilage,
provide stability, allow early and full mobility.7
Sandwich technique is used to maintain smoothness of articular surface by introduction of gel foam; bone
graft is used to support and prevent collapse of articular cartilage as the lesion is subchondral in nature.
Cement is used to augment support by the bone graft to the articular surface. This together forms a
sandwich at the lesion hence termed as Sandwich technique.

A thorough curettage with chemical cauterization with 5% phenol and 70% alcohol, followed by electric
cauterization and cementing with polymethyl methacrylate cement destroys residual microscopic tumor
cells, if any, by its chemical and exothermic reaction and hence reduces the chance of recurrence.8

CONCLUSION

Multicentric giant cell tumor is a rare entity. Synchronous occurrence in all three bones around the knee
still a rare occurrence hence reported. The case was managed by sandwich technique and resulted in good
stability with excellent mobility at knee joint.

Footnotes
Source of Support: Nil

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

REFERENCES

1. Giant Cell Tumour or Osteoclastoma. 9th ed. Mercer's Orthopaedic Surgery; p. 723.

2. Hoch B, Inwards C, Sundaram M, Rosenberg AE. Multicentric giant cell tumor of bone.
Clinicopathologic analysis of thirty cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88:1998–2008.
[PubMed: 16951117]

3. Park IH, Jeon IH. Multicentric giant cell tumor of bone: Ten lesions at presentation. Skeletal Radiol.
2003;32:526–9. [PubMed: 12879297]

4. Campanacci M, Guinti A, Olmi R. Giant cell tumours of bone. A study of cases with long term
following in 130. Ital J Orthop Traumatol. 1975;1:249–77.

5. Sung HW, Kuo DP, Shu WP, Chai YB, Liu CC, Lis M. Giant cell tumours of bone: Analysis of two
hundred and eight cases in Chinese patients. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1982;64:755–61. [PubMed: 7045129]

6. Averill RM, Smith RJ, Campbell CJ. Giant cell tumours of the bones of the hand. J Hand Surg Am.
1980;5:39–50. [PubMed: 7365216]

7. Pals SD, Wilkins RM. Giant cell tumour of the bone treated by curettage. Cement Bone Graft Orthop.
1992;15:703–8.

8. Vander Griend RA, Funder Bruk CH. The treatment of giant cell tumours of the distal part of radius. J
Bone Joint Surg Am. 1993;75:899. [PubMed: 8314830]

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Pre Operative X-ray lateral and A.P. view shows Eccentric lytic lesions in upper end tibia, lower end femur & patella

Figure 2

MRI (sagittal section) shows sub articular eccentrically located lesions in the lateral tibial plateau, lateral femoral condyle
& patella

Figure 3
A) Line Digram showing eccentrically located lytic lesions in lower end femur, upper end tibia & patella, B) Line Digram
showing Sandwich Technique

Figure 4
X-ray (lateral and AP view) after 1 year shows no evidence of recurrence

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