Giant cell tumor of the hamate bone

The authors present two cases of giant cell tumor of the hamate bone. The symptoms and signs were similar in both cases: pain, mild inflammatory changes, and localized swelling. The radiographic picture included lacunar osteolysis with interruption of the cortex in one case, intact cortex but more expansive lysis of the cancellous bone in the other. The findings of greatest interest were constituted by the extreme rareness of the localization, problems related to differential diagnosis, long-term follow-up in one case (20 years) and the different methods of treatment used.