Segmental Excision versus Intralesional Curettage with Adjuvant Therapy for Giant Cell Tumour of Bone

Abstract

PURPOSE: To review the functional outcome and local recurrence rate of 29 patients who underwent segmental excision or intralesional curettage with adjuvant therapy for giant cell tumour (GCT) of bone. METHODS: Records of 17 men and 12 women (mean age, 30.17 years) who underwent segmental excision (n=18) or intralesional curettage followed by adjuvant therapy (n=11) for GCT of the femur (n=13), tibia (n=8), radius (n=6), or ulna (n=2) were reviewed. Nine of the patients had recurrent GCT of bone and had undergone segmental excision (n=6) or intralesional curettage (n=3) elsewhere. Functional outcome was evaluated using the Musculoskeletal Tumour Society (MSTS) scoring system. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 6.4 (range, 3-13.5) years. 14 patients were followed up for 3 to 5 years, 12 for 5 to 10 years, and 3 for >10 years. Of 20 patients with primary GCT of bone, 12 underwent segmental excision and had no recurrence, and 8 underwent intralesional curettage, 2 of whom developed local recurrence. Of the remaining 9 patients with recurrent GCT of bone, there was one re-recurrence in each surgical option. Local recurrence was not associated with Campanacci grading or type of surgery. One of 18 patients with segmental excision and 3 of 11 patients with intralesional curettage had local recurrence (5.6% vs. 27.3%, p=0.139). The MSTS score was excellent in 7, good in 6, moderate in 2, fair in 2, and poor in one patient after segmental excision, whereas the score was excellent in 9 and good in 2 patients after intralesional curettage (p=0.206). The proportion of yielding an excellent outcome was higher after intralesional curettage (38.9% vs. 81.8%, p=0.0289). Nonetheless, the mean MSTS score of the 2 groups was comparable (74.17% vs. 86.36%, p=0.054). CONCLUSION: Local recurrence of GCT was not associated with the surgical option. Nonetheless, intralesional curettage resulted in better functional outcome.