GIANT-CELL TUMOR OF METACARPAL WITH PULMONARY AND SKELETAL METASTASES

A case of giant cell tumour of the left fifth metacarpal with pulmonar y and skeletal metastases is reported with follow-up of 14 years. The pulmonary metastases were treated by chemotherapy, but the size of the metastatic nodules continued to increase, and no further treatment wa s given. The pulmonary metastatic nodules started to regress 8 years a fter the diagnosis without any treatment, and had disappeared after 14 years. The skeletal metastases were unchanged at the latest follow-up . Both pulmonary and skeletal metastases have been asymptomatic for th e 14 years after they were diagnosed. It is suggested that pulmonary m etastases of benign giant cell tumour has a good long-term prognosis a nd these patients should be kept under observation only, avoiding exte nsive lobectomy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.