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European Spine Journal
Published in: European Spine Journal 12/2018

01-12-2018 | Grand Rounds

Cryosurgery in the excision of a giant local recurrent sacral chordoma: a case report and literature review

Authors: Valerio Pipola, Marco Girolami, Riccardo Ghermandi, Giuseppe Tedesco, Gisberto Evangelisti, Alessandro Gasbarrini

Published in: European Spine Journal | Issue 12/2018

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Abstract

Purpose

Chordoma is a low-grade malignant tumor with recurrence and metastasis tendency that originates from embryonic notochordal remnants. The sacrococcygeal region is the most commonly involved site. The aim of this paper is to report the results of the use of cryosurgery in the excision of a giant recurrent sacral chordoma and review of pertinent literature.

Methods

A 64 years old female patient with a locally recurrent sacral chordoma came to our attention after ten interventions performed at another institute. A surgical treatment was performed using argon cryosurgery.

Results

In this case, it was not possible to perform a marginal or wide excision, but it was intralesional with the removal of three major blocks. The fragments sent for the histological analysis measured total 35 × 30 × 8 cm with a weight of 4.260 g.

Conclusions

Given the gelatinous structure of the tumor and the possibility of contamination of operatory field, cryosurgery may be indicated when previous surgeries and the dimensions of tumor mass do not allow a resection with negative margins improving radiotherapy efficacy in the local control of tumor.
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Metadata
Title
Cryosurgery in the excision of a giant local recurrent sacral chordoma: a case report and literature review
Authors
Valerio Pipola
Marco Girolami
Riccardo Ghermandi
Giuseppe Tedesco
Gisberto Evangelisti
Alessandro Gasbarrini
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Spine Journal / Issue 12/2018
Print ISSN: 0940-6719
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0932
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-017-5438-3

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