Giant-cell tumor of the patella: An uncommon cause of fracture

Abstract

Esther Carba-Laso, Ruban Parez-Matanes, Coral Sanchez-Parez, Lydia Mediavilla-Santos, Jose Antonio Calvo-Haro, Miguel Cuervo-Dehesa, Javier Vaquero-Marti

Primary patellar tumors are highly unusual. Most are benign neoplasms with giant-cell tumors being the most common, followed by chondroblastomas and aneurysmal bone cysts. Intralesional curettage and bone grafting is the treatment of choice for most giant-cell tumors in the patella. The use of adjuvants can reduce the high recurrence rate. This is a case report of a giant-cell tumor in a 61-year-old man who was diagnosed with a pathological fracture in the patella after minimal trauma. Extended curettage through an osteotomy made in the medial cortical of the patella was performed. The tumor cavity was filled with high viscosity bone cement and the medial cortical was repositioned. Histological analysis showed mononuclear cells and numerous multinucleated giant cells, confirming the diagnosis. Twenty-four months after surgery, the patient was asymptomatic and there was no evidence of local recurrence. Epidemiology, symptomatology, imagenology, histopathology, treatment options and prognoses of giant-cell tumors of the patella are discussed herein.