Giant cell tumor (GCT) of the sacrum is rare and difficult to treat, although several treatment modalities have been reported. Here we report a patient with sacral GCT who underwent selective intra-arterial embolization.
The patient, a 23-year-old woman, had been treated with curettage alone at a local hospital. However, 4 months after surgery, MRI showed recurrence of the tumor, and the patient was referred to our hospital for further treatment.
After discussion with her and her family, they accepted intra-arterial embolization of the tumor vessels. Embolization using a temporary embolic agent reduced the size of the tumor and the level of serum acid phosphatase (ACP). However, both the tumor size and the level of ACP increased a few months after the procedure. Therefore, embolization was performed using an embolic agent consisting of spherical particles. MRI showed a marked reduction of tumor size 1 month after the last embolization, and the level of serum ACP also fell to less than the standard value.
Embolization using a spherical-particulate embolic agent can be an effective treatment for sacral GCT.