Supervoltage irradiation in the management of giant cell tumor of bone.

Thirteen patients with giant cell tumor of bone were treated with megavoltage irradiation from 1958 to 1972. Nine cases were believed to be true giant cell tumors of bone. The only patient with recurrence following a geographic miss was salvaged surgically. Curative therapy for giant cell tumor of bone may be 3500 rads in 15 fractions in 3 weeks; it is well tolerated with minimal morbidity. Special care must be used in interpretation of the post-therapy radiologic appearance of these lesions because an initial period of osteolysis lasts many weeks before any radiographic indication of healing by recalcification occurs.