Radiation treatment of giant-cell tumour of bone (osteoclastoma)

Ten patients with giant cell tumours of the bone were treated by radiation therapy. Indications were non-radical primary surgery in 8 cases and recurring lesions in 2. Tumour doses ranged from 23 to 75 Gy delivered with supervoltage equipment in 8 cases. There were 3 recurrences after radiation therapy, all occurring in patients with tumor doses less than 39 Gy; 2 of these had received orthovoltage therapy and 2 died later from lung metastases. Modern supervoltage irradiation is probably as effective as surgery which is nevertheless recommended in operable cases.