Giant cell tumors of the sacrum--a nationwide study on midterm results in 26 patients after intralesional excision

Global Prevalence and Risk of Local Recurrence following Cryosurgery of Giant Cell Tumour of Bone: A Meta-Analysis

Simple Summary

Giant cell tumours are benign but locally aggressive and can potentially metastasise to the lungs. Reducing the risk of local recurrence while maintaining limb function and minimising adverse consequences is the best therapeutic strategy in treating giant cell tumours. Based on our observation through this meta-analysis, cryosurgery is one of the viable treatment options that can provide good oncologic and functional outcomes with minimal complication rates.

Abstract

The challenge in the surgical treatment of giant cell tumours of bone is the relatively high recurrence rate after curettage alone. The use of a local adjuvant following curettage, on the other hand, has lowered the rate of recurrence. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk of local recurrence of giant cell tumours of the bone after cryosurgery and the subsequent complications. Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched to identify articles published until 13 October 2021. A random-effects model was used to examine the pooled prevalence and risk ratio (RR) of local recurrence in patients with giant cell tumours after cryosurgery with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020211620). A total of 1376 articles were identified, of which 38 studies (n = 1373, 46.2% male) were included in the meta-analysis. Following cryosurgery, the pooled prevalence of local recurrence in giant cell tumours was estimated as 13.5% [95% CI: 9.3–17.8, I² = 63%], where European subjects exhibited the highest prevalence (24.2%). Compared to other local adjuvants. The RR of local recurrence following cryosurgery was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.63–1.17, I² = 15%), which was not statistically significant compared to other local adjuvants. We found 3.9% fracture, 4.0% infection, 2.1% nerve injury, and 1.5% skin necrosis as the common complications. Based on the sensitivity analyses, this study is robust and reliable. This meta-analysis estimated a low prevalence of local recurrence of giant cell tumours with low complications following cryosurgery. Thus, it can be one of the adjuvant options for treating giant cell tumours.

Application of osteoinductive calcium phosphate ceramics in giant cell tumor of the sacrum: report of six cases

This study aimed at evaluating the possibility and effectiveness of osteoinductive bioceramics to fill the tumor cavity following the curettage of sacral giant cell tumor (GCT). Six patients (four females and two males, 25–45 years old) underwent nerve-sparing surgery, in which the tumor was treated by denosumab, preoperative arterial embolization and extensive curettage. The remaining cavity was filled with commercial osteoinductive calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramics, whose excellent osteoinductivity was confirmed by intramuscular implantation in beagle canine. All patients were followed by computed tomography (CT) scans postoperatively. According to the modified Neer criterion, five cases obtained Type I healing status, and one case had Type II. At the latest follow-up, no graft-related complications and local recurrence were found. The CT scan indicated a median time of healing initiation of 3 months postoperatively, and the median time for relatively complete healing was 12 months. The excellent bone regenerative ability of the ceramics was also confirmed by increased CT attenuation value, blurred boundary and cortical rim rebuilding. In conclusion, osteoinductive CaP bioceramics could be an ideal biomaterial to treat the large remaining cavity following extensive curettage of sacral GCT. However, further investigation with more cases and longer follow-up was required to confirm the final clinical effect.

Intralesional nerve-sparing surgery versus non-surgical treatment for giant cell tumor of the sacrum

Background

There is no standard treatment for giant cell tumors of the sacrum. We compared the outcomes and complications in patients with sacral giant cell tumors who underwent intralesional nerve-sparing surgery with or without (neo-) adjuvant therapies versus those who underwent non-surgical treatment (denosumab therapy and/or embolization).

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 15 cases of sacral giant cell tumors treated at two institutions between 2005 and 2020. Nine patients underwent intralesional nerve-sparing surgery with or without (neo-) adjuvant therapies, and six patients received non-surgical treatment. The mean follow-up period was 85 months for the surgical group (range, 25–154 months) and 59 months (range, 17–94 months) for the non-surgical group.

Results

The local recurrence rate was 44% in the surgical group, and the tumor progression rate was 0% in the non-surgical group. There were two surgery-related complications (infection and bladder laceration) and three denosumab-related complications (apical granuloma of the tooth, stress fracture of the sacroiliac joint, and osteonecrosis of the jaw). In the surgical group, the mean modified Biagini score (bowel, bladder, and motor function) was 0.9; in the non-surgical group, it was 0.5. None of the 11 female patients became pregnant or delivered a baby after developing a sacral giant cell tumor.

Conclusions

The cure rate of intralesional nerve-sparing surgery is over 50%. Non-surgical treatment has a similar risk of complications to intralesional nerve-sparing surgery and has better functional outcomes than intralesional nerve-sparing surgery, but patients must remain on therapy over time. Based on our results, the decision on the choice of treatment for sacral giant cell tumors could be discussed between the surgeon and the patient based on the tumor size and location.

Giant cell tumors of the sacrum: is non-operative treatment effective?

PURPOSE

Giant cell tumors of sacrum in which surgery could endanger important neural components were treated with short term denosumab, angioembolisation and radiotherapy in different combinations to provide a non-operative function preserving treatment option.

METHODS

Between April 2013 and April 2017, 13 sacral GCTs [proximal extent of disease-S1 (10), S2 (2) and S3 (1)] were treated. Age ranged from 20 to 50 years. One patient had loss of bladder control at presentation. Treatment protocol included short term denosumab, angioembolisation and radiotherapy in different combinations. Patients were evaluated every 10-12 weeks. If disease ceased to progress no further treatment was advised. In case of progress, patient was advised additional denosumab and/or angioembolisation and/or radiotherapy till disease stopped progressing.

RESULTS

10 patients have non-progressive disease and are asymptomatic, 2 have non-progressive disease with occasional pain, 1 patient died. Follow-up duration (since final non-progression of disease) ranged from 15 to 54 months (mean 31 months). Total number of angio embolisation sessions ranged from 0 to 12 (mean = 4), total number of denosumab doses ranged from 5 to 16 (mean = 9). Five patients did not receive any radiotherapy, 5 received 50.4 Gy and one patient each received 50.4 + 30 + 12 Gy, 50.4 + 30 Gy and 50.4 + 12 Gy. The patient with loss of bladder control at presentation recovered. There were no other long-term complications.

CONCLUSION

This study offers a non-surgical management option that provides good mid-term local control while preserving neurological function in these complex lesions.

Risk factors for the local recurrence of giant cell tumours of the sacrum treated with nerve-sparing surgery

AIMS

There is a lack of evidence about the risk factors for local recurrence of a giant cell tumour (GCT) of the sacrum treated with nerve-sparing surgery, probably because of the rarity of the disease. This study aimed to answer two questions: first, what is the rate of local recurrence of sacral GCT treated with nerve-sparing surgery and second, what are the risk factors for its local recurrence?

METHODS

A total of 114 patients with a sacral GCT who underwent nerve-sparing surgery at our hospital between July 2005 and August 2017 were reviewed. The rate of local recurrence was determined, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis carried out to evaluate the mean recurrence-free survival. Possible risks factors including demographics, tumour characteristics, adjuvant therapy, operation, and laboratory indices were analyzed using univariate analysis. Variables with p < 0.100 in the univariate analysis were further considered in a multivariate Cox regression analysis to identify the risk factors.

RESULTS

The rate of local recurrence of sacral GCT treated with nerve-sparing surgery was 28.95% (33/114). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that large tumour size (> 8.80 cm) (hazard ratio (HR) 3.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27 to 7.87; p = 0.014), high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (> 2.09) (HR 3.13; 95% CI 1.28 to 7.62; p = 0.012), involvement of a sacroiliac joint (HR 3.09; 95% CI 1.06 to 9.04; p = 0.039), and massive intraoperative blood loss (> 1,550 ml) (HR 2.47; 95% CI 1.14 to 5.36; p = 0.022) were independent risk factors for local recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Patients with a sacral GCT who undergo nerve-sparing surgery have a local recurrence rate of 29%. Large tumour size, high NLR, involvement of a sacroiliac joint, and massive intraoperative blood loss are independent risk factors. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(10):1392-1398.

Analysis of clinical outcome for adolescent patients undergoing conservative nerve-sparing surgery based on the proposed resection classification for sacral giant cell tumor

The most common of age distribution ranges from second to fourth decade of life and patients with giant cell tumors (GCT) aged less than 18 years is more uncommon. We are aiming to reveal what the conservative nerve-sparing surgery values for adolescent patients with sacral GCT. We retrospectively reviewed 15 adolescent patients with sacral GCT aged <eighteen years, who received the conservative nerve-sparing surgery at our center from 2007 to 2018. Four patients presented with tumor of Campanacci grade II and 11 patients with grade III. According to the location of tumor at the sacrum, we classified the surgical resection of sacral giant cell tumor into three types. In our adolescent cohort, nine had the aortic balloon occlusion and five received the selective arterial embolization. All patients were free of disease and no one had the pulmonary metastasis or died of disease. All five wound complications required the debridement. 6 out of 15 patients had the local recurrence that required surgery treatment. The average time to recurrence after initial surgery in the present adolescent cohort was 22.4 months. Two patients had the surgical site infection and three had the wound dehiscence. One had the femoral artery thrombosis due to the aortic balloon occlusion and received the surgical removal of thrombosis. With the help of preoperative selective embolization and intraoperative aortic balloon occlusion, adolescent patients undergoing conservative nerve-sparing surgery for giant cell tumor of sacrum based on the proposed surgical resection classification have an acceptable clinical outcome and neurologic function.

Pre-operative denosumab is associated with higher risk of local recurrence in giant cell tumor of bone: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

In 2013, denosumab was introduced as peri-operative adjuvant treatment for giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone as it inhibits osteoclast activity. It is suggested that denosumab relives pain, facilitate curettage in lesions requiring resection initially. However, controversy remains whether denosumab increases the risk of local recurrence after surgery.

Methods

Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library were comprehensively searched in June 2019 to identify studies investigating the clinical outcome of GCT of bone with and without peri-operative denosumab after surgery. Data were gathered and a meta-analysis was conducted.

Result

Ten studies with 1082 cases (169 in denosumab group, 913 in control group) were included. Overall, denosumab was associated with significantly higher risk of recurrence(P < 0.02) and inferior 5 year recurrence free survival(P = 0.000). Denosumab and curettage has a relatively higher risk of recurrence comparing to curettage alone(P = 0.07). The risk of recurrence is not significantly increased if denosumab was administered both preoperatively and postoperatively(P = 0.24).

Conclusion

Administration of denosumab is associated with increased risk of recurrence due to a variety of reasons, though it is proven effective in relieving pain, enabling curettage and improved functional outcome. Post-operative denosumab is recommended as it continuously suppress/eliminate residue tumor cells.

Efficacy of Minimally Invasive Surgery on Giant Cell Tumour of the Bone: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND:

Although major reconstructive surgeries in the form of excision and reconstruction have been the mainstay treatment for Giant Cell Tumour (GCT) of the bone, its recurrence rate remains high and poses various morbidities such as implant failure or skin breakdown. Minimal invasive surgery (MIS) techniques, which has gained popularity mostly in other fields in orthopaedic surgery, are being introduced as an alternative to limit the surgical complications while achieving the best possible outcome. Until now, there has been no literature summarising the evidence of MIS outcome in treating GCT of the bone.

AIM:

The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the efficacy of this relatively new treatment.

METHODS:

We comprehensively searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library to search for studies about MIS for GCT of the bone treatment up to March 1, 2019. The selection of appropriate studies was performed by two independent investigators based on PRISMA guideline. Given the limited number of studies, there was no restriction in terms of patient’s demographics, the specific minimally invasive surgical method, and publication status.

RESULTS:

We found 120 articles from the database. After evaluating full text, 5 articles (16 patients) were found to be eligible. The minimally invasive methods were curettage, cryosurgery, and argon beam coagulator. The visualisation methods include a computer-assisted navigation system, endoscope, otoscope, CT, and MRI. Location of tumours includes axial and long bones. The follow-up period ranges from 7 to 126 months. The functional and oncological outcome was found to be satisfying with no recurrence or complications.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, MIS is a familiar method in orthopaedic surgery with potential expansion in tumour field. The current evidence shows that this approach for GCT results in good functional outcome, with low risk of recurrence.

Axial giant cell tumor - current standard of practice

Giant cell tumors of bone are relatively rare in the axial skeleton, accounting for approximately 6.7% of all cases. Due to their anatomical complexity, difficult access and proximity to vital neurovascular structures, management of these tumors poses a huge challenge on the treating surgeon. Several data series reported on axial GCTB involve short series of limited cases with varied methods used in their local control due to which, proper guidelines are unavailable for the management of such difficult cases. Though the present data support the use of denosumab for effective management of these lesions but there is varied consensus on dosage and duration of treatment. This review article summarizes the basic features and treatment modalities related to axial GCTB stressing on multidisciplinary approach to achieve optimum outcomes.

A nonrandomized controlled study of sacral giant cell tumors with preoperative treatment of denosumab

The aim of this nonrandomized controlled study (level 3)was to evaluate whether preoperative denosumab treatment can reduce intraoperative blood loss, facilitate surgical treatment, and improve local control of sacral giant-cell tumor (GCT).Surgical treatment of sacral GCT is very difficult due to extensive bone destruction and complex anatomical structures. The huge intraoperative blood loss may interrupt surgical management and judgment of tumor range. Denosumab can inhibit the differentiation of osteoclast-like giant cells and bone destruction by blocking RANKL-RANK pathway.Study group (preoperative denosumab treatment) and control group (no denosumab treatment) were matched for age, gender, tumor site, staging, and tumor size. In study group, enhanced computed tomography (CT) was performed before and after denosumab treatment. The comparison parameters between 2 groups: CT enhancement rate, intraoperative blood loss, and oncologic outcome.The mean preoperative time of denosumab treatment was 5.2 months in study group. The mean CT enhancement rate of study group was 2.60 before treatment and 1.37 after treatment (P = .012). The posttreatment CT enhancement rate of study group was significantly lower than that of control group (P = .007). The mean intraoperative bleeding of study group and control group was 2166.7 and 5240 mL, respectively (P = .040). The mean operative time of study group and control group was 268.3 and 268.5 minutes, respectively (P = .997). The recurrence rate of study group (66.7%) was significantly higher than that of control group (0%) (P = .046).Preoperative denosumab treatment has the tendency to reduce blood supply and intraoperative bleeding of sacral GCT. But the sclerosis and bony separation can increase the difficulty of tumor curettage and lead to high recurrence rate after denosumab treatment. It is necessary to study the best surgical opportunity after denosumab treatment and precise method to judge tumor range.

Recurrence Factors in Giant Cell Tumors of the Spine

Background:

Giant cell tumors (GCTs) are benign, locally aggressive tumors. We examined the rate of local recurrence of spinal GCTs and sought to identify recurrence factors in patients who underwent surgery.

Methods:

Between 1995 and 2014, 94 mobile spine GCT patients were treated at our hospital, comprising 43 male and 51 female patients with an average age of 33.4 years. Piecemeal intralesional spondylectomy and total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) were performed. Radiotherapy was suggested for recurrent or residual GCT cases. Since denosumab was not available before 2014 in our country, only interferon and/or zoledronic acid was suggested.

Results:

Of the 94 patients, four underwent conservative treatment and 90 underwent operations. Seventy-five patients (79.8%) were followed up for a minimum of 24 months or until death. The median follow-up duration was 75.3 months. The overall recurrence rate was 37.3%. Ten patients (13.3%) died before the last follow-up (median: 18.5 months). Two patients (2.6%) developed osteogenic sarcoma. The local recurrence rate was 80.0% (24/30) in patients who underwent intralesional curettage, 8.8% (3/34) in patients who underwent extracapsular piecemeal spondylectomy, and 0 (0/9) in patients who underwent TES. The risk factors for local recurrence were lesions located in the cervical spine (P = 0.049), intralesional curettage (P < 0.001), repeated surgeries (P = 0.014), and malignancy (P < 0.001). Malignant transformation was a significant risk factor for death (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Cervical spinal tumors, curettage, and nonintact tumors were risk factors for local recurrence. Intralesional curettage and malignancy were the most important significant factors for local recurrence and death, respectively.

Selective Arterial Embolization for the Treatment of Sacral and Pelvic Giant Cell Tumor: A Systematic Review

Giant cell tumor of the bone (GCTB) is a locally aggressive tumor with a certain distant metastatic rate. For sacral GCT (SGCT) and pelvic GCT (PGCT), surgery has its limitations, especially for unresectable or recurrent tumors. Selective arterial embolization (SAE) is reported to be an option for treatment in several cases, but there are few systematic reviews on the effects of SAE on SGCT and/or PGCT. Medline and Embase databases were searched for eligible English articles. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were conducted before searching. All the clinical factors were measured by SPSS software, with P-values ≤0.05 considered statistically significant. A total of 9 articles were retrieved, including 44 patients receiving SAE ranging from 1 to 10 times. During the mean follow-up period of 85.8 months, the radiographic response rate was 81.8%, with a local control and overall survival rate of 75% and 81.8%, respectively. No bowel, bladder, or sexual dysfunction was observed. Three patients developed distant metastases and finally died. Patients with primary tumors tended to have better prognosis than those with recurrence (P = 0.039). The favorable outcomes of SAE suggest that it may be an alternative treatment for SGCT and PGCT patients for whom surgery is not appropriate.

Giant cell tumor of bone revisited

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a locally aggressive benign neoplasm that is associated with a large biological spectrum ranging from latent benign to highly recurrent and occasionally metastatic malignant bone tumor. It accounts for 4–10% of all bone tumors and typically affects the meta-epiphyseal region of long bones of young adults. The most common site involved is the distal femur, followed by the distal radius, sacrum, and proximal humerus. Clinical symptoms are nonspecific and may include local pain, swelling, and limited range of motion of the adjacent joint. Radiographs and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the imaging modalities of choice for diagnosis. Surgical treatment with curettage is the optimal treatment for local tumor control. A favorable clinical outcome is expected when the tumor is excised to tumor-free margins, however, for periarticular lesions this is usually accompanied with a suboptimal functional outcome. Local adjuvants have been used for improved curettage, in addition to systematic agents such as denosumab, bisphosphonates, or interferon alpha. This article aims to discuss the clinicopathological features, diagnosis, and treatments for GCT of bone.

Interest of Denosumab for the Treatment of Giant-cells Tumors and Aneurysmal Bone Cysts of the Spine. About Nine Cases

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the interest of denosumab in the treatment of spinal giant-cells tumors (GCTs) and aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

To treat GCTs and ABCs, surgical resection remains the best treatment to limit local recurrence (LR) but constitutes an aggressive treatment with potential morbidity. Denosumab, a human antibody anti-RankL, inhibiting the differentiation of osteoclasts, could be an alternative treatment to avoid aggressive surgery.

METHODS

Patients suffering from GCTs and ABCs of the spine were included. Patients received a monthly subcutaneous injection of denosumab (120 mg) during a minimum of 6 months either as a neoadjuvant or as an adjuvant therapy. In association with denosumab, an osteosynthesis was added in case of vertebral fracture and a laminectomy in case of spinal cord compression. Clinical and computed tomography (CT)-scan outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Eight GCTs and one ABC were included. The mean age was 35 years (range: 22-55 yr). Five patients had neurologic deficit. All patients were operated: six osteosynthesis, one "en bloc" resection, four curettages, and two of them associated with an osteosynthesis. Average duration of denosumab therapy was 12.9 months (range: 3.2-24 months). Among them, four patients began denosumab 6 months at least before the surgery. With a mean follow-up of 19.3 months (range: 3.2-52.4 months), back pain and neurologic deficit improved for all patients. Systematic CT-scan at 6 months showed decrease of tumor size and bone consolidation. Regarding patients treated by neoadjuvant denosumab treatment, intraoperative histologic analysis showed an absence of giant cells and a maximum of 10% of alive tumor cells.

CONCLUSION

Denosumab allows bone formation and tumor regression with a maximum efficacy after 6 months of treatment without widely substituting surgery. Long-term results are mandatory to confirm the interest of denosumab and to evaluate LR when stopping denosumab.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Conservative surgery in the treatment of giant cell tumor of the sacrum: 35 years' experience

OBJECT There is no consensus regarding the appropriate treatment of sacral giant cell tumor (GCT). There are 3 main management problems: tumor control, neurological loss, and pelvic instability. The objective of this study was to examine oncological, neurological, and structural outcomes of sacral GCT after intralesional excision and local intraoperative adjunctive treatment. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 24 patients with sacral GCT who underwent conservative surgery (intralesional resection/curettage) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center from 1973 through 2012. They analyzed patient demographic data, tumor characteristics, and operative techniques, and examined possible correlations with postoperative functional outcomes, complications, recurrence, and mortality. RESULTS There were 7 local recurrences (30%) and 3 distant recurrences (13%). Three of 24 patients (12.5%) had significant neurological loss after treatment-specifically, severe bowel and/or bladder dysfunction, but all regained function within 1-4 years. Larger tumor size (> 320 cm³) was associated with greater postoperative neurological loss. Radiation therapy and preoperative embolization were associated with prolonged disease-free survival. There were no local recurrences among the 11 patients who were treated with both modalities. Based on radiographic and clinical assessment, spinopelvic stability was present in 23 of 24 patients at final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS High local and distant recurrence rates associated with sacral GCT suggest the need for careful local and systemic follow-up in managing these patients. Intraoperative preservation of sacral roots was associated with better pain relief, improvement in ambulatory function, and retention of bowel/bladder function in most patients. Fusion and instrumentation of the sacroiliac joint successfully achieved spinopelvic stability in cases deemed clinically unstable. Despite improvement in the management of sacral GCT over 35 years, a need for novel therapies remains. The strategy of combining radiotherapy and embolization merits further study.

Modified kraske procedure with mid-sacrectomy and coccygectomy for en bloc excision of sacral giant cell tumors

Sacral giant cell tumors are rare neoplasms, histologically benign but potentially very aggressive due to the difficulty in achieving a complete resection, their high recurrence rate, and metastization capability. Although many treatment options have been proposed, en bloc excision with tumor-free margins seems to be the most effective, being associated with long term tumor control, improved outcome, and potential cure. An exemplifying case of a 29-year-old female with progressive complaints of pain and paresthesias in the sacral and perianal regions, constipation, and weight loss for 6 months is presented. The surgical technique for en bloc excision of a large sacral giant cell tumor through a modified Kraske procedure with mid-sacrectomy and coccygectomy is described. Complete resection with wide tumor-free margins was achieved. At 5 years of follow-up the patient is neurologically intact, without evidence of local recurrence on imaging studies. A multidisciplinary surgical procedure is mandatory to completely remove sacral tumors. In the particular case of giant cell tumors, it allows minimizing local recurrence preserving neurovascular function, through a single dorsal and definitive approach.

Adjuvant treatment with zoledronic acid after extensive curettage for giant cell tumours of bone

BACKGROUND

Giant cell tumours (GCT) of bone are benign neoplasms associated with a high rate of local recurrence after extensive intra-lesional curettage. Recently, understanding of the biological molecular availability of strong anti-osteoclastic drugs has suggested their potential value in reducing local recurrences after curettage. Through a phase II clinical trial, we investigated the effect of a short treatment with zoledronic acid (ZOL) after intra-lesional curettage of GCT, as well as local recurrence and tolerance of the treatment.

METHODS AND PATIENTS

Twenty-four patients were enrolled in a multicentre, phase 2 study. The patients were treated with extensive intra-lesional curettage followed by five courses of ZOL (4 mg IV every 3 weeks). The clinical and biological tolerance of each patient was assessed. Patients were reviewed clinically and by X-ray every 6 months until the end of the study (36 months).

RESULTS

Eighteen out of 20 patients reported side-effects with ZOL, mainly grade 1 and 2 effects. The local recurrence rate was 15%; three patients had a recurrence, one at 4 months (huge GCT of the sacrum), one at 24 months (patient who discontinued the treatment after the first course of ZOL), and one after the observational period, at 58 months. Finally, local relapse-free survival was 82 ± 9% at 60 months.

CONCLUSION

Short adjuvant treatments with ZOL after extensive intra-lesional curettage of GCT were associated with a low rate of recurrence but did not prevent local recurrence in this study. No serious general adverse effects were observed. More studies are needed to evaluate the potential benefit of medical bisphosphonate injections combined with intra-lesional curettage in the treatment of GCTB.