Giant cell tumor of hyoid bone: Diagnostic dilemma with a novel management.

Abstract

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is locally aggressive tumor occurring in the epiphysis of long bones. GCTBs are uncommon tumors in the head-and-neck region and rarely involve hyoid bone. We report a case of GCTB of hyoid bone. The patient presented with swelling in left submandibular region. The tumor was surgically excised after initial denosumab therapy. Despite adequate resection and rehabilitation, he was tube dependent. Subsequently it was found that the patient had a coexisting myotonic dystrophy, unknown to exist with GCTB of hyoid. Eventually, the patient succumbed to respiratory failure secondary to myotonic dystrophy. GCTB hyoid is a rare presentation posing a diagnostic dilemma. Ours is the first case to report the use of denosumab for GCT in head-and-neck region. Myotonic dystrophy Type I and GCTB are both known to result from abnormality of closely situated foci on chromosome 19.