[Giant cell tumor of the lumbar vertebra]

A rare observation of the lumbar vertebra giant-cell tumour with growth into the surrounding soft tissue in a girl of 12, is described. It is pointed out that only radical surgical intervention is required for the treatment of giant-cell tumours, with subsequent replacement of the bone defect with an auto- or allotransplant. The authors state that one cannot judge the malignant course of the tumour basing on the histological picture only. Therefore the subdividing giant-cell tumours into "benign" and "malignant" is largely formal.