Giant cell tumor of temporal bone: A case report.

Giant cell tumor of bone rarely occurs in the skull, particularly in the temporal bone, it is rarest one. They are very aggressive and have tendency to local recurrence and late malignant change with metastases. Multiple bits of grey-brown tissue were received in 10% formalin fixative. These were processed in histokinette, embedded in paraffin and blocks were made with the help of microtome, thin serial sections were taken of 4-5 microns and stained with heamatoxylin and eosin. Histologically it showed good number of giant cells, which were large cell containing 20 – 25 nuclei in pale pink cytoplasm, some of them showing mild pleomorphism. No mitosis was seen. The stroma, mainly composed of spindle cells and mononuclear cells and was diagnosed as Giant cell tumor of temporal bone. In temporal bone of the skull, true giant cell tumor, osteoclastoma is very rare and it should be differentiated from the less aggressive reparative granuloma as the clinical behavior of these lesions can be greatly different. Hence proper evaluation by histological serial sections is beneficial in arriving at proper diagnosis, for further management.