[Giant cell tumors of the sacrum (author's transl)]

In connection with our observations of three patients with giant-cell tumors of the sacrum a description of this disease is given reviewing the 51 cases which have been published world-wide. As other tumors of the sacrococcygeal region the giant-cell tumor has no significant symptoms which would allow a differential diagnosis. Pain in the sacral region often radiating to both legs is the predominant symptom. Surgical intervention is the treatment of choice. To obtain a complete excision of the tumor with minimal damage to nervous structures the abdominal, sacral or abdomino-sacral route is recommended by several authors. The prognosis is dubious because a total removal is usually not feasable, and there is a high risk of recurrence and malignant degeneration.