Unusual tumor of the toe
Key clinical message: Giant Cell Tumor is a soft-tissue tumor
that has a very low potential for malignant change. Involvement of the
phalanges of foot is very rare and only a few cases have been reported.
Key words: Dermatology, oncology, Giant cell tumor, bone
tumors.
A 39-year-old woman presented with complaints of pain and swelling of
the left second toe for four months. The mass had been slowly increasing
in size over the previous 3 years. On examination, there was diffuse
swelling of the left second toe with erythematous and shiny overlying
skin (Figure 1). The X-ray showed an osteolytic expansive lesion with
cortical destruction in the region of the distal phalanx of the second
toe. No calcification or periosteal reaction was observed. Magnetic
resonance (MR) images showed a mass measuring 1×1.5 cm that was
heterogeneously hypo intense on both T1- and T2-weighted MR images. This
mass showed a marked, diffuse and heterogeneous enhancement on the
contrast T1- weighted image. Surgical excision of the tumor was
performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of
Giant Cell Tumor (GCT) (Figure 2). The patient’s postoperative course
was uneventful, and no recurrence or metastasis was observed. GCTs are
soft-tissue tumors that have a very low potential for malignant change.
It account for approximately 6% of all bone
tumors.1,2 It typically involves the long bones in
young adults. 1,2 Involvement of the phalanges of foot
is very rare and only a few cases have been reported.1,2