Giant cell reparative granuloma in the hand: report of three cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Occurrence of giant cell reparative granuloma (GCRG) outside the jaw, skull, or facial bones is unusual. Three recent cases of GCRG occurring in the hand are presented. This lesion appears on radiographs as a lucent, expansile defect in bone, similar in appearance to enchondroma, giant cell tumor of bone, aneurysmal bone cyst, or brown tumor of hyperparathyroidism. Histologically, GCRG is characterized by spindle-shaped, fibroblastic stoma with scattered, small, angulated giant cells and areas of osteoid formation around foci of hemorrhage. Establishing the pathologic diagnosis is frequently difficult. Misdiagnosis occurred in approximately half of the reported cases and in one of our cases. The typical clinical presentation is that of localized pain and swelling. GCRG is not a neoplastic disorder; however, it recurred locally in a third of the reported cases. Recommended treatment for GCRG is thorough removal of the diseased tissues and grafting of autologous bone.