L5 giant cell tumor in 28-year-old female

Background: Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a rare benign tumor that may also exhibit aggressive local behavior. Recurrence of GCTB is common even after complete resection. GCTB typically occurs in long bones, and only 2.7 are found in the spine. Here, a 28-year-old female with a magnetic resonance (MR)-documented L5 lumbar spine GCTB presented with a cauda equina syndrome effectively managed with a decompressive laminectomy/L4S1 fusion. Case Description: A 28-year-old female presented with a 1-year history of lower extremity pain/paresthesia that had exacerbated over the previous 1 month. When the MR imaging revealed cauda equina compression due to a L5 hypodense lesion, the patient successfully underwent a decompressive laminectomy/L4S1 fusion. The histopathology examination confirmed the presence of a GCTB. Conclusion: While gross total excision for GCTB is the treatment of choice, for those undergoing only subtotal/ partial resections, additional adjuvant therapy may be warranted. Notably, even despite extensive resections, these lesions have a high rate of recurrence. © 2024 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.