Sarcomatous degeneration of giant cell tumours

Sarcomatous degeneration in giant cell tumours (G.C.T.) usually only occurs in patients of late adult age. Unlike other Centres, we have not up to now observed primary malignant G.C.T. In 327 cases registered at the Tumour Centre of the Rizzoli Institute, there were 10 cases of sarcomatous degeneration. In 8 of these, radiotherapy had been used as the initial treatment of the tumour. The incidence of sarcomatous degeneration when the radiation dose exceeded 4000r was 29%. The prognosis in such cases is very serious, the only feasible treatment being amputation. The possibility of sarcomatous degeneration must be considered before deciding to adopt radiotherapy as the method of primary treatment in giant cell tumours.