Prosthetic replacement of vertebrae resected because of metastasis of unknown origin; report of a case

A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of back pain and a tumor located from the 2nd and 3rd ribs to the 2nd and 3rd thoracic vertebrae. A tumor biopsy stained immunohistochemically cytokeratin showed anaplastic carcinoma, but whole body examination failed to demonstrate the primary site. The diagnosis was vertebral metastatic carcinoma of unknown origin. Preoperatively 40 Gy radiotherapy was administered. We resected the tumor, chest wall and 2nd and 3rd thoracic vertebrae, and inserted a prosthetic replacement. No viable tumor cells were detected in the resected specimen. During the 15 months of observation after the operation vertebral stabilization was well maintained and no recurrence or metastasis was noted.