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Denosumab for an inoperable giant cell tumour of the ischial bone
  1. Aaron Gerarde Paul1,
  2. Lei Peng See1,
  3. May Honey Ohn2 and
  4. Khin Maung Ohn3
  1. 1Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
  2. 2Cardiology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
  3. 3Orthopaedic Surgery, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
  1. Correspondence to Professor Khin Maung Ohn; drkmgohn{at}ums.edu.my

Abstract

Giant cell tumour of bone is a benign, locally aggressive osteolytic tumour that typically affects skeletally mature young individuals. It predominantly emerges within the metaphysis, extending towards the epiphysis of long bones, while occurrences in flat bones are exceptionally rare. We present a case of a woman in her late 20s who presented with a large right ischial mass. A biopsy confirmed the mass as a giant cell tumour. The tumour extended to the acetabulum, and due to the potential risk of significant bleeding and contamination during en bloc excision, a prudent approach involved initiating denosumab therapy, a monoclonal antibody targeting receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand therapy, before proceeding with radical surgery. Denosumab therapy successfully rendered a previously inoperable tumour favourable for surgical intervention. We went on to perform a type 2 and 3 internal hemipelvectomy, followed by a reconstruction with a hip endoprosthesis replacement.

  • Drug therapy related to surgery
  • Surgical oncology
  • Orthopaedic and trauma surgery

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Footnotes

  • Twitter @AaronPa2817064

  • Contributors The following authors were responsible for drafting of the text, sourcing and editing of clinical images, investigation results and critical revision for important intellectual content: KMO, AGP, LPS, MHO. The following authors gave final approval of the manuscript: AGP, KMO.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.