title: Spinal Cord Injury due to the Giant Cell Tumor of the Second Thoracic Vertebra: A Case Report.
abstract: Giant cell tumor (GCT) is a relatively rare neoplasm. In GCT, the bone affection of the axial skeleton is extremely rare. Most GCT arises in the meta-epiphyseal ends of the long bones. Its peak incidence is between 30 to 40 years of age. GCT is usually classified as benign, but shows locally aggressive behavior and may occasionally undergo a malignant transformation. The patients with GCT in the spine often complain of the lower back pains, as the tumors primarily involve the sacrum. We report a case of an adolescent female complaining of the upper back pain with a sudden weakness of the lower extremities, later diagnosed with the GCT of the T2 vertebra. The present patient showed American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) D before the surgery, which changed to AIS E after the treatments including the surgery, radiation therapy and rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Eon
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jinmann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chon
authors.forename: Dong Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Yong-Koo
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun Hye
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Giant cell tumor; Spinal cord injuries