title: Transarterial embolization (TAE) of sacral giant cell Tumor (GCT) using spherical parmanent embolic material superabsorbant polymer microsphere (SAP-MS).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We retrospectively evaluated our experience of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the sacral GCT with use of a spherical permanent embolic agent, superabsorbant polymer microsphere (SAP-MS) as an alternative treatment modality.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1997 to 2011, four patients with sacral GCT were treated with TAE. In all cases, SAP-MS was used as an embolic material. The effects of TAE were evaluated for improvement of patients' symptoms, radiographic change such as vascularity of tumor, size of tumor and occurrence of reossification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the four patients, three responded favorably to TAE with improvement in pain and neurologic symptoms with long-term follow up. Diminished vascularity, stabilization of tumor size and reossification were shown radiographically. One patient died because of tumor growth 26 months after the initial TAE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In sacral GCT, TAE using SAP-MS might be useful for symptom improvement, reossification of the lesion and stabilization of tumor size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, 1-3-3, Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku Osaka, 537-8511 Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Keigo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Osuga
authors.affiliation: Gate Tower Institute for Image Guided Therapy, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuhito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tomiyama
keywords: Embolization; Giant cell tumor; Microspheres; Sacrum