[A case of giant cell tumor originating in the rib]

A rare case of giant cell tumor originating in the rib is reported. A 23-year-old female was admitted because of a mass in the right chest wall, right back pain and bloody pleural effusion. Exploration revealed tumor originating from the 2nd or 3rd rib and invading the intercostal muscles and the right lung. We completely resected the tumor with chest wall and performed right pneumonectomy. The defect of the chest wall was reconstructed using polyester mesh covered with a Gore-tex soft tissue patch. The pathological diagnosis was a malignant giant cell tumor of the rib. She is now doing well and has had no recurrence for 18 months since the operation.