When benign pretends to be <i>malignant</i>: A case report of giant cell tumor of the breast with review of literature

A giant cell tumor (GCT) of the breast is an uncommon intermediate-type soft tissue tumor with histological features resembling its osseous counterparts. To date, only 12 such cases have been documented. Our case involves a 58-year-old woman who initially presented with a breast lump progressively enlarging over six months. It was evaluated as a potential case of breast cancer. Mammography, biopsy, and, subsequently, positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) were conducted for staging. The core biopsy specimen did not conclusively differentiate between the two suspected pathologies, i.e., GCT and Invasive breast cancer with osteoclast-like giant cells, although it was favoring the former. Following a multidisciplinary tumor board (MDTB) meeting, the patient underwent a total mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection (TM+ALND). The large biopsy was suggestive of GCT of the breast. We have conducted an exhaustive review of the literature on GCT of the breast, encompassing its presentation, radiological findings, differential diagnoses, and treatment modalities to formulate a structured approach for management. Additionally, we performed a statistical analysis of baseline characteristics, outcomes, and treatment modalities to succinctly summarize the current data on this subject.