Giant cell reparative granuloma of the small bones of the hands and feet: a report of three cases

Giant cell reparative granuloma (GCRG) involving the small tubular bones of the hands and feet is a rare entity that can have a wide range of morphologic presentations and can be confused with more aggressive tumors. Awareness of this lesion is important to avoid diagnostic errors and potential mismanagement. We report three cases of GCRG that involve the small tubular bones of the hands and feet, with long-term follow-up periods that confirm a benign course. Previous reports included the differential diagnosis of giant cell tumor, brown tumor of hyperparathyroidism, aneurysmal bone cyst, and non-ossifying fibroma. The presence of chondroid material in two of our cases, one of which also shows atypical nuclei and a periosteal reaction, expands the differential diagnosis to include bone- and cartilage-forming neoplasms.