[Giant-cell tumor of bone in 2022]

Abstract

Giant cell tumors of bone (GCTs) are rare mesenchymal tumors classified as intermediate in the WHO 2020 classification, i.e. neither completely benign nor definitely malignant, due to recurrence (frequent) and pulmonary metastases (rare). They involve the end of long bones as well as the axial bones of mature skeletons. They are made of mononuclear stromal tumor cells of (pre-) osteoblastic phenotype, mononuclear cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage and osteoclast-like multinuclear giant cells responsible for tumor osteolysis. In 95% of cases, the stromal cells have a specific mutation in the H3F3A gene which encodes histone H3.3. The mutated H3.3 G34W protein (90% of cases) can be easily detected by immunohistochemistry, even on small samples. Many tumors or bone pseudotumors contain osteoclast-like giant cells, cells of the bone microenvironment, and should not be confused with GCT: mainly brown tumor of hyperparathyroidism, aneurysmal bone cyst, chondroblastoma, non-ossifying fibroma and central giant cell granuloma.

Keywords: Bone tumor; Denosumab; Differential diagnosis; Giant cell tumor of bone; Giant cell-rich lesions; Malignant giant cell tumor of bone; Pathology.