GIANT-CELL TUMOR OF THE SACRUM

Twenty-six patients (18 women and eight men) with giant cell tumors of the sacrum were treated from 1960 through 1986. The mean age of the p atients was 29 years. The follow-up duration averaged 7.8 years. A neu rologic deficit was present in 88%. Sixteen patients had not had a pre vious operation. Ten patients were referred for local recurrence. Twen ty-one patients had radiation therapy; malignant transformation later occurred in three. Three benign giant cell tumors metastasized to the lungs. The local recurrence rate for patients treated by curettage was 33%. Three patients died of tumor-related complications. At the compl etion of this study, two patients were alive with disease. The suggest ed initial treatment is complete curettage. Radiation therapy should b e reserved for incomplete resection and local recurrence. Occasionally , patients may require wide resection, which may cause a severe neurol ogic deficit and compromise spinal stability.