Giant cell tumor of the talus: A case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION AND

IMPORTANCE

Giant cell tumor is a benign primary bone tumor of mesenchymal origin that mainly affects the long bones. Involvement of the bones of the foot is rare with an incidence of 1 to 2 %. We report a case of giant cell tumor of the talus in a 36-year-old man.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old tailor with no past medical history presented with pain in the left ankle. The symptoms had been present for approximately three years. A small, non-inflammatory swelling was observed on the anteromedial side of the ankle. The range of motion of the ankle was normal and painless in all planes. X-rays of the ankle revealed a well-defined lytic lesion at the neck of the talus without periosteal reaction. An MRI was performed, revealing a lytic pattern in the inner half of the talus, which expanded and thinned the cortex without obvious signs of breakthrough. The diagnosis was confirmed by a biopsy, which revealed a giant cell tumor of the talus without any signs of malignancy. Surgical treatment by tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis was performed.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Giant cell tumor is a benign tumor that usually occurs in long bones in 85 % of cases, with 10 % of cases reported in the axial skeleton. Its location in the bones of the foot is uncommon, with an incidence ranging from 1 to 2 %.

CONCLUSION

Giant cell tumor is a benign but locally aggressive tumor. Talectomy associated with arthrodesis is a viable therapeutic alternative for extensive destructive lesions.