Giant-cell tumor of bone with pulmonary metastases. Six case reports and a review of the literature

Abstract

Giant-cell tumor of bone rarely metastasizes to the lung. In three of six cases, lesions in lung tissue were histologically benign. In 39 such cases reported in the literature, the treatments were surgical extirpation, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Resection was indicated to definitely diagnose the pulmonary lesions as benign giant-cell tumors. Radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy may be beneficial as adjuvant treatment, especially where the lesions are anatomically inaccessible. Some pulmonary lesions spontaneously regress even in the absence of definitive treatment.