Giant-cell tumor of the sacrum: an analysis of 10 cases

Giant-cell tumor of the sacrum is rare. There were only a few reports of large series in the literature. From 1960-1988 a total of ten cases giant-cell tumor of the sacrum were treated in our Department. The average age of the patients was 34 years (with range of 19-49 years). The lesions located in the proximal parts of the sacrums in 8 cases, and in S3-5 in another 2 cases. of 10, 7 were treated with en bloc resection or subtotal resection. of the sacrum, and followed by irradiation in 5 of 7 cases (with range of 2000r-4500r). All the 7 cases were followed up without any evidence of local recurrence or distant metastases. The average follow-up period was 10.3 years (with range of 1.5-27.5 years). The rectal, bladder and sexual function were normal or restored. The other 3 cases, biopsied in 2, partially resected in 1, died less than one year after diagnosis. Comparing the died group with the survival group, we concluded that early diagnosis and thorough excision of the tumor are the two decisive factors for a favorable prognosis.