Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 13, 2026
Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
Giant Cell Tumor of Cervical Spine Presenting as Acute Asphyxia: Successful Surgical Resection After Down-Staging
Rajendra Kumar1, Jeanne M Meis2, Behrang Amini1
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
Study Design:
Case report and literature review.
Objective:
To describe treatment of a unique case of acute airway obstruction by a large C7 giant cell tumor (GCT) with preoperative denosumab followed by surgical resection, and review the literature on this rare entity.
Summary Of Background Data:
Standard treatment for GCTs includes surgical resection or curettage and packing. Large lesions in the spine may require preoperative therapy with denosumab, a human monoclonal antibody to RANKL, to facilitate surgery. It is highly unusual for GCT arising in cervical spine to present with acute asphyxia (requiring tracheostomy).
Methods:
We report a patient with large C7 GCT that caused tracheal compression with almost complete airway obstruction requiring emergency intubation.
Results:
The tumor responded to subcutaneously administered denosumab with marked decrease in size and relief of symptoms. Increased tumor mineralization in response to therapy facilitated subsequent successful surgical tumor resection. The patient remains symptom-free 2 years after surgery without tumor recurrence.
Conclusion:
Denosumab can shrink the size of large GCTs, providing symptom relief before surgery and facilitate tumor resection.
Level Of Evidence:
5.
