Abstract
A rare case of giant cell tumor originated in the first lumbar vertebra is reported in the present paper.
The patient was 27years old female with buttock pain without any inducing factor, beginning since August, 1989. She became unable to walk in October. MRI and CT examinations showed tumorous lesions at the first lumbar vertebral body and the right pedicle. On November 9, 1989 yellow and firm tumor including Th12 and L1 nerve roots was removed through posterolateral costtransversectomy under a magnifying glass. At the same time, we reconstructed her spinal column with Harrington's instrumentation and autoiliac bone graft. One and a half years after the surgery, she returned to normal home life without any recurrence signs on X-ray examinations.
In discussing the prognosis of this lesion in 66 cases as previously reported, 44 cases had good results and only 6 cases showed recurrance. Operative treatment for giant cell tumor of the spine showed relatively better results in the tumorous lesion of the spine. Improved results can be achieved by more better surgical technique at the time of extirpation.
