Abstract

Objective:
Giant-cell tumour of the bone is a relatively uncommon tumour. DMA cytometry, gene, and protein analyses of the tumor and contrast-enhanced dynamic MRI are important for predicting local recurrence but these markers are complicated. Moreover, local recurrence is missed by MRI when no appropriate range of interest is selected. Therefore present study was planned to find a marker which can be easily used to diagnose and to predict the local recurrence of giant-cell tumour of bone.

Material:
A total of 25 confirmed cases of giant cell tumour were enrolled for study. Total duration of study was 2 years. Acid phosphatase was determined by kinetic colorimetric method and calcium was measured using Cresolphthalein Complexone Method
Results:
The mean value of acid phosphatase in patients of giant cell tumour before surgery was 18.16±11.51 IU/L which decreased to 5.06±1.42I U/L after 3 months of surgery and the difference was highly significant. Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase levels were 8.63±3.71 U/L before surgery and after treatment it decreased to 3.20±1.50 U/L and the difference was statistically highly significant. A significant positive correlation was found of tumour volume with acid phosphatase and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase. Mean calcium levels were 16.43±3.09 mg/dl which decreased after treatment to 8.47±1.21 mg/dl with highly significant p value.
Conclusion:
A raised level of serum calcium indicates osteolytic activity. Serum tartrate resistant acid phosphatase is a more useful and more convenient specific marker for the diagnosis and prediction of the recurrence of giant cell tumour of bone than methods and markers presented in previous reports and may be useful in routine follow-up of patients treated for giant cell tumour.

Key words: Giant cell tumour; calcium; acid phosphatase; tartrate resistant acid phosphatase.