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Updated: May 30, 2026
Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
Giant cell bone tumor of the thoracic spine presenting in late pregnancy
Anupama S Q Kathiresan1, Jeremiah N Johnson, Brian J Hood
1From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
Background:
We report a case of a large giant cell tumor of the thoracic spine presenting with spinal cord compression during pregnancy.
Case:
A 24-year-old woman presented at term with lower back pain, bilateral lower extremity weakness, numbness, and bowel and bladder incontinence. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a spinal soft tissue mass compressing the spinal cord. The patient delivered a healthy girl by cesarean then underwent a T8-T9 laminectomy, posterior spinal decompression, and instrument fusion. Two days later, she had a thoracotomy, corpectomy of the vertebral body, and anterior tumor debulking. Ultimately, the patient was discharged to inpatient rehabilitation with improved lower extremity strength and returned bowel and bladder function.
Conclusion:
Obstetricians should be vigilant regarding progressive neurologic symptoms during pregnancy.
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