Multicentric osteolytic lesion of the middle finger of the hand. Case report

Giant cell-rich osteolytic lesions may have overlapping clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic features, with an important degree of difficulty of diagnosis and treatment. We report a case of double osteolytic lesion at the middle-finger in a young man without previous history of hand trauma. He underwent en-bloc resection of the bone lesions and reconstruction by graft of hydroxyapatite, resulting in a good morpho-functional result. Histological diagnosis was giant cell reparative granuloma (GCRG), although several features were considered atypical, including the appearance of the giant cells and the areas of the stroma that more closely resembled a giant cell tumor. GCRG is a benign rare intraosseous lesion and the true nature is controversial and unknown. The theories are that it could be a reactive lesion, a developmental anomaly or a benign neoplasm. It appears as an osteolytic lesion that must be considered in the differential diagnosis of other “critical” bone lesions similar in clinical, as well as radiologic and pathological appearance. Further characterization studies are helpful and necessary for the proper management.

Preliminary Notes on Two Seasons of Research at Oplontis B (2014-2015)

The complex known as Oplontis B lies in the shadow of Vesuvius, about 3 kilometers west of Pompeii and 300 meters from the well-known Villa A. Since its first excavation and reconstruction in the 1970s and 1980s, Oplontis B has languished in abandonment ―virtually unstudied. The Oplontis Project, led by John Clarke and Michael Thomas, began investigating the site in 2012 after completing its work on Villa A. The documentation of the complex is a primary task. In the past few years members of the Project team have cataloged the previously excavated materials, recording over 1200 wine amphorae as well as a variety of other artifacts. At the same time, Marcus Abbott has laser-scanned the building to produce a detailed plan of the site. The excavations have similar aims: to record the 79 CE level of the complex and to investigate its development. This paper discusses the preliminary results of the last two seasons of excavations and cataloging efforts which build on our previous work conducted in 2012 and 2013.