Successful total en bloc resection of a lumbar vertebra for a giant cell tumor: A case report.

Background: Giant cell tumor (GCT) is a benign neoplasm that most commonly arises in the long bones; when these tumors rarely present as primary spinal bone tumors, they may exhibit local aggressive behavior, warranting extensive surgical resection.

Case description: An 11-year-old female presented with lower back, radicular pain, and paraparesis. The magnetic resonance imaging showed an L5 tumor with an extension into the spinal canal. Total en bloc spondylectomy of the L5, vertebra revealed a GCT. Postoperatively, the patient did well for 3 months.

Conclusion: GCTs of bone are aggressive benign bone tumors that rarely involve the spine. Gross total surgical excision is the treatment of choice for these lesions that exhibit high local recurrence rates.