Pediatric Giant Cell Tumor

  • Etiology:
  • Imaging:
    — Location: Epiphysis, abut articular surface, only occurs with closed growth plate
    — Lytic or blastic: Lytic with non-sclerotic margin
    — Matrix:
    — Zone of transition: Narrow
    — Periosteal new bone or cortical destruction:
    — Additionally:
  • DDX: Lucent bone lesions that extend to epiphysis are chondroblastoma, chondrosarcoma, giant cell tumor, osteomyelitis
  • Complications:
  • Treatment: Surgical
  • Clinical:

Radiology Cases of Giant Cell Tumor

Radiograph of giant cell tumor of femur
AP radiograph of the knee shows growth plate fusion and a metaphyseal lesion that is lytic and expansile in appearance with a narrow zone of transition and no associated periosteal reaction.
Radiograph and MRI of pediatric giant cell tumor
AP radiograph of the knee (above left) shows growth plate fusion and a metaphyseal-epiphyseal lesion that is lytic in appearance with a narrow zone of transition and no associated periosteal reaction. Coronal T1 MRI without contrast of the knee (above right) shows the lesion to be low in signal intensity while the coronal T2 MRI (below left) shows the lesion to be high in signal intensity and to have surrounding bone marrow edema. Coronal T1 MRI with contrast (below right) shows the lesion to have heterogenous enhancment.