SACRUM - A RARE BONY SITE FOR TUMORS - A REVIEW OF OUR CASES

Abstract

Background and Objective - Tumors of the
sacrum are rare and they comprise 10 percent
of all benign bone tumors and 6 percent
of all malignant tumours. Primary benign
and malignant tumors of the sacrum
constitute fewer than 7 percent of all intraspinal
tumors and may arise from bone,
neural elements or bonemarrow. As in any
other bone, metastases are the most common
malignant tumors of sacrum with primary
tumors located in lung, breast, kidney,
prostate, head and neck, gastrointestinal
tract and skin. This study analyses
the clinical and pathological findings of
sacral tumors reported in our institution in
the past 6 years. Materials and methods -
The clinical and pathological materials of 8
patients diagnosed as sacral tumors from
Jan 2007 to Dec 2012 were considered for
the study. The clinical and pathological
findings were evaluated. Results - A total
of 8 cases were reported and they included
3 cases of chordoma (37 percent),
3 cases of osteoclastoma (38 percent) and
2
cases of metastatic deposits (25 percent).
Conclusion - Tumors of the sacrum can be
derived from bone, bone marrow and hematopoietic
elements. Metastatic deposits
involving the sacrum are more common
than primary tumors. Diagnosis of these
neoplasms by morphological features is
very important as the treatment and prognosis
is different for different neoplasms.