Giant Cell Tumor of the Distal Phalanx of the Great Toe: Case Report.

Abstract

Introduction

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a benign but locally aggressive neoplasm that most commonly involves the epiphyseal-metaphyseal regions of long bones. Involvement of the foot is rare, and occurrence in the distal phalanx of the great toe is exceptionally uncommon. GCTs arising in small bones are known to exhibit more aggressive behavior and higher recurrence rates than those in long bones, posing challenges for management.Case report

We report the case of a young adult presenting with progressive pain and swelling of the great toe. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an expansile osteolytic lesion of the distal phalanx with cortical destruction and soft-tissue extension. Histopathological examination following open biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of GCT of bone. The patient received three doses of denosumab, followed by surgical resection of the distal phalanx with the intent of limb preservation. The post-operative course was uneventful. At the 1-year follow-up, the patient remains symptom-free, with no evidence of recurrence.Conclusion

GCT of the distal phalanx of the great toe is a rare entity with aggressive local behavior. Early diagnosis, histopathological confirmation, and appropriate surgical planning are essential for achieving local control. Limb-preserving strategies can be considered in selected cases, but vigilant follow-up is mandatory due to the high risk of recurrence.

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Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{sarma2026giant,
  title = {{Giant Cell Tumor of the Distal Phalanx of the Great Toe: Case Report.}},
  author = {Evani Anirudh Sarma and Mantu Jain and Harshit Mishra and A Muhammad Zainul Aabid and Shahnawaz Khan and Jagatjyoti Panda},
  journal = {Journal of orthopaedic case reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.13107/jocr.2026.v16.i10.8184},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42852002},
  note = {CC BY-NC},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Giant Cell Tumor of the Distal Phalanx of the Great Toe: Case Report.
AU  - Evani Anirudh Sarma
AU  - Mantu Jain
AU  - Harshit Mishra
AU  - A Muhammad Zainul Aabid
AU  - Shahnawaz Khan
AU  - Jagatjyoti Panda
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - Journal of orthopaedic case reports
DO  - 10.13107/jocr.2026.v16.i10.8184
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42852002
AB  - Introduction  Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a benign but locally aggressive neoplasm that most commonly involves the epiphyseal-metaphyseal regions of long bones. Involvement of the foot is rare, and occurrence in the distal phalanx of the great toe is exceptionally uncommon. GCTs arising in small bones are known to exhibit more aggressive behavior and higher recurrence rates than those in long bones, posing challenges for management.Case report  We report the case of a young adult presenting with progressive pain and swelling of the great toe. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an expansile osteolytic lesion of the distal phalanx with cortical destruction and soft-tissue extension. Histopathological examination following open biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of GCT of bone. The patient received three doses of denosumab, followed by surgical resection of the distal phalanx with the intent of limb preservation. The post-operative course was uneventful. At the 1-year follow-up, the patient remains symptom-free, with no evidence of recurrence.Conclusion  GCT of the distal phalanx of the great toe is a rare entity with aggressive local behavior. Early diagnosis, histopathological confirmation, and appropriate surgical planning are essential for achieving local control. Limb-preserving strategies can be considered in selected cases, but vigilant follow-up is mandatory due to the high risk of recurrence.
SN  - 2250-0685
SN  - 2321-3817
ER  -

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