Forty-five patients with primary neoplasm of the spine, disgnosed and operated at Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, from 1970 to 1988, were reviewed in an attempt to analyze the incidence of the primary spine tumors and effectiveness of surgical treatment. Mean follow-up was 2.5 years. Among 29 benign tumors, 7 cases of osteoid osteoma, 6 cases of giant cell tumor, 4 cases of osteoblastoma and aneurysmal bone cyst, and 2 cases of fibrous dysplasia and osteochondroma, and others were identified. Of 16 malignant tumors, 6 cases of eosinophilic granuloms, 4 cases of chordoma, 3 cases of solitary plasmacytoms, and others were noted. 17 cases occurred in the anterior compartment, 18 cases in the posterior compartment, and 10 cases involved both compartments. Surgical treatment consisted of complete or near complete excision, decompression, and additional stabilization procedure when the stability of the vertebral column was compromised. Stablization was achieved either by fusion, strut bone graft, or by additional Zielke, Cotrel-Dubousset, or Luque-Harringtion instrumentation. The results were astisfactory in most of the cases with benign tumors except cases of giant cell tumor. The results in malignant tumor were satisfactory especially in eosinophilic granuloma and solitary plasmacytoma with respects to symptoms and survival, and this fact was attaibuted to good response to adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Recent application of Cotrol-Dubousset or Zielke instrumentation after agressive resection made early ambulation a clinical reality.