OBJECTIVEThe aim of the present study was to investigate the outcome of surgical management in patients with giant cell tumor (GCT) of extremity long bone and the risk factors for recurrence.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 145 patients with giant cell tumor of long bone treated in our hospital from 2002 to 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 79 male and 66 female patients. The mean age at first diagnosis was 29 (11-66) years. There were 45 GCTs localized in the distal femur, followed by 36 in the proximal tibia, 22 in the proximal femur, 19 in the distal radius, 8 in the proximal fibula, 8 in the proximal humerus, 4 in the distal tibia and one in the distal fibula, distal humerus and proximal radius, for each. Surgical treatment included extensive curettage in 81 cases and resection in 64 cases. The possible risk factors for recurrence included age, gender, tumor location, Campanacci grading, pathologic fracture and types of surgery. The patients were followed up with a mean duration of 50 months ranging from 36 to 104 months. The correlation of age, gender, tumor location, Campanacci grading, pathologic fracture and types of surgery with the risk for recurrence was analyzed.

RESULTSThe overall local recurrence rate was 4.8% (7/145) and the mean duration for recurrence was 20 months ranging from 4 to 52 months. The local recurrence rate was 7.4% (6/81) in the extensive curettage group and 1.6% (1/64) in the resection group (P = 0.134). The difference was not statistically significant. Age, gender, tumor location, Campanacci grading, pathologic fracture and types of surgery were not risk factors for recurrence.

CONCLUSIONSThe results of the present study suggest that clinical and imaging features and types of surgery are not affecting factors for recurrence of giant cell tumor of long bone. Extensive curettage provides similar favorable local control of the tumor as resection. We would recommend extensive curettage while resection should be done following indications.