title: Factors affecting prognosis of patients with giant cell tumors of the mobile spine: retrospective analysis of 102 patients in a single center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Giant cell tumor (GCT) of the mobile spine is a benign tumor, but it can be potentially aggressive. There is not much published information on GCT of the mobile spine as a result of rarity of the disease, and there are controversies over prognostic factors of the condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of GCT of the mobile spine was performed by survival analysis. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was defined as the interval between the date of surgery and the date of recurrence. The postoperative RFS rate was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors with P values of ≤0.1 were subjected to multivariate analysis for RFS by proportional hazard analysis. P values of ≤0.5 were considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 102 patients with GCT of the mobile spine were included in the study. The mean follow-up period was 39.9 (median 26.0, range 2-153) months. Thirty-eight patients developed recurrence. The univariate and multivariate analysis suggested that age less than 40 years, total spondylectomy either by en bloc or piecemeal method, and administration of bisphosphonate were independent favorable prognostic factors. Subgroup analysis by excluding patients before the year 2000 further confirmed our findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The removal of the entire osseous compartment either by en bloc or piecemeal method in combination with the long-term use of bisphosphonate could significantly reduce the recurrence rate of GCT of the mobile spine. Age less than 40 years is a favorable prognostic factor for GCT in the mobile spine.
authors.affiliation: Spine Tumor Center, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wending
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Leqin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xinghai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tielong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianru
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005870:Giant Cell Tumors / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates