Bone Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bone Cancer, including details on symptoms, types, treatment.

Giant cell tumour of bone in a cat with extraskeletal metastases: pathological and immunohistochemical study.

Ferreras MC, Fuertes M, Pérez V, Benavides J, García-Pariente C, Reyes LE, García-Marín JF

Dpto. Patología Animal: Medicina Animal (Anatomía Patológica), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, s/n, 24071 León, Spain. dmamfe@unileon.es

A case of giant cell tumour of bone (GCTb) in the lung and in a subcutaneous mass located in the right flank, with a probable primary origin in the mid-diaphysis of the right tibia, was described in a 8-year-old female cat. Numerous multinucleated giant cells were homogeneously distributed among a population of ovoid or spindle-shaped mononuclear cells. All of them were positive for vimentin suggesting a mesenchymal origin. Spindle-shaped tumour cells resemble fibroblastic cells, showing collagen fibres in their vicinity. Ovoid mononuclear cells are similar to macrophages, with a cytoplasm rich in electron-dense lysosomes. Multinucleated giant cells appear morphologically similar to osteoclasts. These findings are supported for the positive reaction to tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and lysozyme, encountered only in ovoid and multinucleated giant cells. No immunoreactivity against human oestrogen receptors was observed in the nuclei of any neoplastic cells.

Published 9 June 2005 in J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med, 52(5): 225-9.
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