Multimodal Management of Combined Posterior and Anterior Surgical Approach and Postoperative Pharmacological Therapy for Giant Cell Tumor of the Cervical Spine Encasing the Vertebral Artery: A Technical Case Report

Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo). 2022 Sep 15;62(9):438-443. doi: 10.2176/jns-nmc.2022-0158. Epub 2022 Aug 27.

Abstract

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is essentially benign but locally aggressive, and the rate of local recurrence is high when the resection is not enough. En bloc resection is recommended as an ideal solution for GCT to decrease the risk of local recurrence, but it remains challenging for cervical GCT. In this technical case report, we present a case of extensively infiltrating GCT of the cervical spine completely encasing the vertebral artery (VA) on one side. The tumor was distributed to layers A-D, sectors 3-8 based on the Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini staging. Combined posterior and anterior surgical approach for the cervical spine was successfully performed and followed by postoperative adjuvant pharmacological therapy. This kind of multimodal management may be one of the solutions for advanced cervical GCT.

Keywords: bisphosphonate; cervical spine; denosumab; giant cell tumor; vertebral artery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Cervical Vertebrae / pathology
  • Cervical Vertebrae / surgery
  • Female
  • Giant Cell Tumors* / pathology
  • Giant Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Spinal Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Spinal Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Vertebral Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Vertebral Artery / surgery