Giant cell tumor of the sphenoid bone: long-term follow-up of two cases after chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND

Giant cell tumors rarely occur in the sphenoid bone. When they do occur in the base of the skull, surgical treatment is frequently difficult and therefore, the use of adjuvant therapy is important. However, there remains no optimal management regimen for giant cell tumors of the sphenoid bone.

CASE DESCRIPTION

Two cases of a giant cell tumor involving the sphenoid bone that responded well to chemotherapy using adriamycin after a partial removal of the tumor are presented. In the first patient, the tumor was partially removed via a transcranial subfrontal approach and a transnasal transsphenoidal approach. In the second patient, the tumor was partially removed through a transcranial subfrontal approach. Both tumors demonstrated histologic features typical of giant cell tumors. The patients subsequently received adjuvant chemotherapy using adriamycin alone in the first patient, and chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy in the second patient. Partial regression of the tumors was later confirmed on a computed tomography (CT) scan after chemotherapy. In both patients, tumors have been stable for more than 12 years despite an incomplete removal of the tumors.

CONCLUSION

Based on the above findings, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy using adriamycin may be effective for incompletely resected giant cell tumors of the sphenoid bone.