Genetic instability in osteoblastic bone tumors

Aims At the histological level, the differential diagnosis of osteoblastic bone tumors is characterized by several problems that cannot be solved by conventional histological methods, including immunohistology. Differentiating aneurysmal bone cyst from telangiectatic osteosarcoma or giant cell tumor from giant cell-containing highly malignant osteosarcoma are only two examples reflecting the complexity of this field. To develop a new approach to these diagnostic problems, we analyzed the genetic instability in a large number of bone-forming tumor-like lesions as well as in benign and malignant osteoblastic tumors.