Details

Giant-Cell Tumor of the Femur

GC.7299

Histology Slide x4 Posterior half of coronal section of the left knee showing a tumour in the distal end of the femur. From a miner age 69 years who had complained of ‘rheumatic’ pains in his “leg” during three months. While walking across the floor in his house his “leg” broke and he fell. Radiogram showed a pathological fracture. Amputation was performed through midthigh. The distal portion of the shaft and much of the distal epiphysis is replaced by a well defined brown tumour with in places a somewhat gelatinous appearance and containing a number of pseudo-cysts. The cortex of the diaphysis at its junction with the epiphysis has been destroyed and the diaphysis is impacted into the tumour which is making its way on either side under a raised periosteum. Microscopically the structure is that of a giant-cell tumour.