Giant cell tumor of the eleventh thoracic vertebra in a pediatric patient: an interesting case report and comprehensive literature review

Primary Benign Tumors of the Spinal Canal

Benign tumors that grow in the spinal canal are heterogeneous neoplasms with low incidence; from these, meningiomas and nerve sheath tumors (neurofibromas and schwannomas) account for 60%-70% of all primary spinal tumors. Benign spinal canal tumors provoke nonspecific clinical manifestations, mostly related to the affected level of the spinal cord. These tumors present a challenge for the patient and healthcare professionals, for they are often difficult to diagnose and the high frequency of posttreatment complications. In this review, we describe the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis, histopathology, molecular biology, and treatment of extramedullary benign meningiomas, osteoid osteomas, osteoblastomas, aneurysmal bone cysts, osteochondromas, neurofibromas, giant cell tumors of the bone, eosinophilic granulomas, hemangiomas, lipomas, and schwannomas located in the spine, as well as possible future targets that could lead to an improvement in their management.

Destructive Giant Cell Tumor With a Secondary Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of Cervical Spine: A Rare Pediatric Case Report

Spinal giant cell tumor (GCT) and aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) are infrequent neoplasms of bone. Thirty percent of ABCs are secondary to tumors, such as GCT. We report a rare case of a pediatric cervical spine secondary ABC to GCT that had to be multimodally managed through anterior and posterior surgical approach, embolization, and denosumab treatment leading to a stabilization of the remnant. The case shows the importance of therapeutic strategy decision that depends on the patient and the lesion.