title: Partial spondylectomy for primary leiomyosarcoma of C2 vertebra.
abstract: METHODS
  A primary leiomyosarcoma located on the left side of the C2 is reported. Left-sided partial spondylectomy and anterior reconstruction with posterior stabilization was performed by a two-staged operation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To emphasize the occurrence of primary leiomyosarcoma and the importance of proper stabilization in the upper cervical spine.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm of the bone and the primary leiomyosarcoma of the spine is extremely rare. Radical tumor excision is the goal in case of vertebral leiomyosarcoma, but to both gain surgical access to the upper cervical spine and obtain anterior reconstruction is challenging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Leiomyosarcoma of the C2 in a 25-year-old woman with mild neurologic deficits is reported. A left-sided partial spondylectomy of C2 was performed. The defect of the vertebral body was reconstructed by expandable titanium prosthesis, and posterior craniocervical fixation was performed by the polyaxial screws in the lateral masses and rod/plates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surgical margin was very small. The pathology of the tumor was reported as leiomyosarcoma. No sign of local recurrence or metastasis was evident 1 year after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leiomyosarcoma, although rare, should be kept in mind as one of the possible diagnoses when a patient with an upper cervical tumor is presented and complete tumor removal must be the goal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, IIzmir Atatürk Research and Training Hospital, İzmir, Turkey. hsucu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hasan Kamil
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Sucu
authors.forename: Hamdi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bezircioğlu
authors.forename: Türkan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rezanko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000295:instrumentation; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014025:Titanium; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium