BACKGROUND: We reported on a case of a giant-cell tumor of the patella which occurred in a skeletally immature patient. This combination of unusual age of presentation and atypical location made our case clinically and radiologically unique. CASE REPORT: A 13-year-old girl presented with complains of knee pain and swelling. After radiological investigations and percutaneous needle biopsy a diagnosis of giant-cell tumor of the patella was made, for which the patient underwent patellectomy with en bloc resection of the lesion and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that early diagnosis may be difficult in such cases and hence, GCT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a destructive lesion of the patella, regardless of the age of presentation.
BACKGROUND: We reported on a case of a giant-cell tumor of the patella which occurred in a skeletally immature patient. This combination of unusual age of presentation and atypical location made our case clinically and radiologically unique. CASE REPORT: A 13-year-old girl presented with complains of knee pain and swelling. After radiological investigations and percutaneous needle biopsy a diagnosis of giant-cell tumor of the patella was made, for which the patient underwent patellectomy with en bloc resection of the lesion and the diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that early diagnosis may be difficult in such cases and hence, GCT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a destructive lesion of the patella, regardless of the age of presentation.