Metatarsal giant cell tumour in a 7-year-old child: a case report

Giant cell tumours are uncommon benign osseous neoplasias with an obscure origin. They mostly occur in the epiphyses of long bones after skeletal maturity. Occurrence in a metatarsal bone in a child less than 10 years old is quite exceptional. The authors report a case of a 7-year-old girl with an aggressive giant cell tumour of the first metatarsal bone of her right foot. Intralesional excision by curettage and grafting with morselised iliac cortical and cancellous bone was performed. The girl is now disease free since 7 years. Giant cell tumours in this location and age group are rare; they appear to represent a distinct, more aggressive form of tumour. They should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a destructive bony lesion in skeletally immature patients. Curettage and bone grafting with morcelised iliac cortical and cancellous bone remains a treatment option, despite a high potential for recurrence.