We report two cases diagnosed as malignant vertebral tumor which were treafed by Total en bloc spondylectomy (TES). Patients complained of lumbago only and no abnormal neurological findings were reported. In the first case, the patient was a 36 year-old male. CT scan findings revealed a small space occupying lesion in the left side of the vertebral body. Percutaneous transpedicular biopsy confirmed a chondrosarcoma. TES was done using the posterior approach with a thread wire saw. Reconstruction was done with pedicle screwing and bone grafting. In the second case, the patient was a 49-year old female. MRI scanning reuealed a focal lesion developing over the bone edge on the right side of the vertebral body. According to the results of investigations, the patient was diagnosed as having breast cancer and metastatic vertebral tumor. Three weeks after total mastectomy, TES was done using the anterior and posterior approaches. Six months after surgery, both patients were symptom-free with no pain and the cage was not displaced radiographically. TES is now the best method for local radical resection but care needs to be taken when indicating this method for malignant vertebral tumors.
