ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Our aim is to define the role of embolization in the treatment of aneurysmal bone cyst of the spine in order to include this option in the decision making process. METHODS: From April 2004 to November 2009, seven patients with primary aneurysmal bone cyst of the mobile spine treated by embolization have been prospectively followed-up. All clinical presentations and imagings were recorded. There are many options of embolic agent and techniques used, but all aim to devascularize the tumor. The therapeutic protocol includes: embolization repeated every 8 weeks until the appearance of radiographic signs of healing. Complications, rate of healing and clinical outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: The number of embolizations varied from one to a maximum of seven without related intra- or post-operative complications. One patient, after four selective arterial embolizations, underwent direct percutaneous injection of embolic agents into the cyst. A clinical and radiographical response was achieved in all patients who were found alive and completely free of disease at mean follow-up of 46 months after last treatment and nobody crossed to surgical option. CONCLUSION: Embolization seems to be the first option for spinal aneurysmal bone cyst treatment because of the best cost-to-benefit ratio. It is indicated in intact aneurysmal bone cyst, when diagnosis is certain, when technically feasible and safe and when no pathologic fracture or neurologic involvements are found. If embolization fails, other options for treatment would still be available.
Subject(s)
Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal/therapy , Embolization, Therapeutic/methods , Spinal Diseases/therapy , Spine/diagnostic imaging , Adolescent , Adult , Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal/diagnostic imaging , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Radiography , Spinal Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To define the role of Enneking staging system and of the consequent different treatment options on the outcome of osteoblastoma (OBL) of the spine. METHODS: A retrospective review of 51 patients with OBL of the mobile spine conducted to compare the outcomes among the different types of treatments at long term follow-up (25-229 months, av.90). These 51 patients were previously staged according to Enneking staging system and treatment selected accordingly. 10 stage two (st.2) OBLs were treated with intralesional excision and 41 stage three (st.3) OBLs were treated either by intralesional excision or en bloc resection. The intralesional excision group was divided considering the use or not of radiation therapy after surgery. The recurrence rate was compared among these groups and also considering previous open surgery ("non intact" vs. "intact"). The statistical significance was defined using the Fisher Exact test. RESULTS: No local recurrence occurred in the st.2 patients treated by intralesional excision. Considering the st.3 patients, 2 local recurrences out of 13 patients occurred in the en bloc resection (15.4 %) group. All occurred in "non intact" cases (67 %). In the intralesional group, 5 local recurrences out of 27 patients occurred (18 %) being none in the group that received radiation therapy after surgery. Two occurred in the "intact" (7 %) and three in the "non intact" group (75 %). Considering all patients, the difference between the recurrence rate between "intact" and "non intact" groups was statistically significant (p < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Intralesional excision proved to be effective in st.2 lesions and en bloc resection in st.3. Radiotherapy seems to be an effective adjuvant treatment when en bloc resection is not feasible or requires unacceptable functional sacrifices. The first treatment significantly affects the prognosis as previously treated patients have worse prognosis.
