Giant-cell tumors of the spine and sacrum causing neurological symptoms.

Pain and neurological disturbances were the most frequent symptoms in patients with giant-cell tumors of the spine (4 cases) and sacrum (1 case). A good prognosis is possible in patients with vertebral tumor localization. There were no recurrences at follow-up 6 to 16 years after the first admission. The patient with a sacral tumor is alive more than 15 years after the first admission with some remaining neurological symptoms. Early surgical and/or radiation therapy is important. If institution of treatment is delayed more than three months after the onset of nerve root symptoms, there is a great risk of development of irreversible neurological lesions.