Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT
Surgical treatment of sacral giant cell tumors (GCTs) is associated with a high rate of complications, and there is controversy
over which type of surgical treatment is optimal.
PURPOSE
To develop an optimal treatment strategy for sacral GCTs.
STUDY DESIGN/SETTING
Retrospective/academic medical center.
PATIENT SAMPLE
A total of 32 patients (18 women and 14 men) with sacral GCT who underwent surgery between August 1996 and August 2008.
OUTCOME MEASURES
Local recurrence rate, surgical margins, blood loss, sacral nerve root preservation, and complications.
METHODS
The medical charts of 32 patients were reviewed.
RESULTS
Patients underwent either wide resection (n=2), marginal resection (n=11), marginal resection plus curettage (n=12), or curettage
alone (n=7). The curettage group and the wide resection group had the highest and lowest amounts of blood loss (4,500 vs.
1,300 mL, respectively). During follow-up (median, 42 months), 12 patients (37.5%) had local recurrence, including five of
seven in the curettage group. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in the marginal excision group compared with that
in the curettage group (18.2% vs. 71.4%, respectively; p=.049). Five patients had bladder dysfunction, and two patients had
bowel dysfunction. Four patients who underwent marginal resection had lower limb dysfunction. Overall survival was 93.6%,
and 2-year recurrence-free survival was 84.4%.
CONCLUSIONS
Choosing an optimal surgical margin in the treatment of sacral GCTs is of great importance for local recurrence control and
sacral nerve root preservation. Curettage alone should not be used to treat sacral GCT.
Links
Authors
Li G, Fu D, Chen K, Ma X, Sun M, Sun W, Li J, Cai Z
Institution
Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Rd, Shanghai 200072, China.
Source
The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society 12:6 2012 Jun pg 484-91MeSH
AdultAged
Female
Giant Cell Tumors
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Sacrum
Spinal Neoplasms
Young Adult
Pub Type(s)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Language
eng
PubMed ID
22801004
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