Surgical treatment of malignant tumours of the sacrum

Aims: We assessed the results of surgical treatment of malignant sacral tum ours and aimed to supply information on incidence and distribution of these lesions. Methods: Forty-sis malignant cases out of 65 tumours of the sacrum were ass essed retrospectively. Three of the patients did not accept treatment. Surg ical treatment was applied to 23 (65.2%) of the remaining 43 patients. Surg ical techniques used were resection and PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) appli cation through a posterior approach. sacral reconstruction, and resection t hrough a combined posterior and anterior approach. Results: Twelve of the lesions were primary while 34 were secondary. Among the primary sacrum tumours, the most common was chordoma (six cases, formin g 9.2% of all the sacral lesions). Of a secondary sacral lesions, nine case s of breast carcinoma were found, forming the most common group. The recurr ence rate was 23.3%. Conclusions: Chordoma was the most common primary sacral tumour, but found no incidence of giant cell tumour which has been previously reported as the second most common primary sacral tumour. We believe the posterior approac h for resection of the tumour is sufficient in most instances and lumbopelv ic instability must be prevented by reconstructive procedures.