Morphological characteristics of a synthetic bone graft in recurring giant cell tumor of bone

Abstract

Giant cell tumour of bone (GCTB) is usually a benign bone tumour with a high rate of recurrence and possibility of `benign` pulmonary metastases or transformation in a malignant blastoma. The majority of patients with this tumour are effectively treated by intralesional curettage. After curettage, the bone defect is packed with bone grafts or polymethylmethacrylate bone cement. Bone grafts are divided into autografts, allografts, and synthetic bone substitutes. Synthetic bone grafts usually contain apatite-wollastonite-containing glass ceramic, hydroxyapatite, and tricalcium phosphate.The aim of this study was to analyse the morphological characteristics of β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) synthetic bone graft (chronOS® - DePuy Synthes) from patients with recurring giant cell tumour of bone.Eight patients with giant cell tumour of bone were treated by curettage and grafting with TCP. One man and two women developed local recurrence. On second surgery, a new biopsy was taken to confirm the diagnosis. The tissue material showed a recurrence of the giant cell tumour, synthetic bone substitute and newly-formed bone.In our cases, we did not observe complications from the use of TCP. The graft was well incorporated into the surrounding host bone, but was not completely absorbed.The synthetic bone graft is a safe and useful method for grafting after curettage for GCTB.