An epithelioid hemangioma involving three contiguous bones in continuity has, to the best of our knowledge, not been reported in the literature. A case of a 48-year-old man presented with radiating pain to the lower thoracic region for two years. A radiograph and CT scan revealed both permeative osteolytic and multiple trabeculated lesions involving the left posterior part of the 10th rib as well as the 9th and 10th vertebral bodies in continuity and was misled as a malignant or infectious lesion. The histopathology and immuno-histochemistry of the lesion confirmed the diagnosis of an epithelioid hemangioma. The lesion was still stable as of three years after surgery.
Bone Neoplasms/pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid/pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ribs/pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Spinal Neoplasms/pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae/pathology/*radiography/surgery ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A 40-year-old Asian female presented with a 2-month history of right shoulder pain and right triceps weakness. MRI revealed an extramedullary, extradural, dumbbell-shaped spinal cord tumor with C6 to C7 iso- and hyperintensity on T1 and T2 weighted imaging, respectively. Histological examination revealed monomorphous spindle cells with a storiform pattern. Immunohistochemistry was positive for CD34, CD99, and negative for EMA, SMA, and S100; solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) was confirmed.
Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae/*pathology/radiography/surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors/*pathology/radiography/surgery ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms/*pathology/radiography/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: A retrospective review of medical records and imaging studies. To investigate characteristic clinical features and surgical outcomes of spinal cord tumors (SCTs) of the thoracolumbar junction (TLJ). The spinal cord transitions to the cauda equina in the TLJ. The TLJ contains the upper and lower motor neurons of the spinal cord and cauda equina. As a result, the clinical features of lesions in the TLJ vary, and these anatomical characteristics may affect surgical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pathological diagnosis, clinical features, neurological signs, and surgical outcomes were investigated in 76 patients surgically treated at our institute for SCTs arising from T11 to L2. The patients were divided into epiconus (T11-12, n=18) and conus groups (L1-2, n=58). RESULTS: Patients in the epiconus group had hyperactive deep tendon reflexes (DTRs), while those in the conus group had hypoactive DTRs (p < 0.05). Nine patients were misdiagnosed with intervertebral disc diseases (IVDs) before correct diagnoses were made. It was impossible to definitively determine the exact cause of symptoms in four patients who had both SCTs and IVDs. CONCLUSION: Among SCTs of the TLJ, the epiconus group displayed upper motor neuron syndrome and the conus group displayed lower motor neuron syndrome. SCTs of the TLJ were frequently misdiagnosed as IVDs due to symptomatic similarities. SCTs of the TLJ should be included in differential diagnosis of back and leg pain, and it is highly recommended that routine lumbar magnetic resonance imaging include the TLJ.
Cauda Equina/pathology/radiography ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disk Displacement/pathology/radiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Compression/pathology/radiography ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms/*surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae/*pathology/radiography ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Adolescent ; Back Pain/diagnosis/*etiology/surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteoblastoma/*complications/pathology/radiography/surgery ; Pain Measurement ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Spinal Neoplasms/*complications/pathology/radiography/surgery ; *Thoracic Vertebrae/pathology/radiography/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cell Tumor of Bone ; pathology ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; pathology ; Radiography ; Spinal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Spinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Spine ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical manifestation and surgical outcome of spinal osteoblastoma.

METHODSFrom June 2006 to July 2010, 11 patients with spinal osteoblastoma treated surgically were analyzed retrospectively. There were 7 males and 4 females with an average age of 23.5 years (range, 16 - 34 years). The tumors were located at C(5) in 3, C(6) in 4, C(7) in 2, C(6) ~ T(1) in 1 and T(11) in 1. Based on WBB classification, 9 were 1 - 3 or 10 - 12 and 2 were 4 - 9 and 1 - 3. All the operations had been performed with en-bloc resection. The posterior approach was used for 9 patients, and combined posterior and anterior approach was used for 2 patients. Reconstruction using instrumentation and fusion was performed using spinal instrumentation in 8 patients. To evaluate the change of pain before and after the operation by visual analogue scales (VAS), and to assess functional status of the spine by McCormick scale. Imaging test was used to review the stability and recurrence rate of spine cord, and the confluence of graft bones.

RESULTSAll cases were followed up for 12 - 64 months (average, 28.4 months). The average surgical time was 130.5 minutes (range, 90 - 210 minutes), with the average intraoperative blood loss of 560 ml (range, 300 - 1000 ml). During the follow-up period, the VAS grade reduced from 6.3 ± 1.1 to 2.5 ± 1.0 (t = 8.48, P < 0.05). There were 8 patients had neurological function improved and 3 remained no change which was evaluated by McCormick scale for spinal function status at final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSSpinal osteoblastoma has its own specific radiographic feature. There are some recurrence in simple curettage of tumor lesion. The thoroughly en-bloc resection of tumor or spondylectomy, bone fusion and strong in ter fixation are the key points for successful surgical treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoblastoma ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Pain Measurement ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Mediastinum ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Radiography ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; pathology ; Young Adult

A 58-year-old female patient, diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the lung, underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty at the L4 vertebral body due to painful spinal metastases. Because of deep venous thrombosis of the left femoral and iliac veins, an inferior vena cava filter had been placed before vertebroplasty. Bone cement migrated into the venous bloodstream and then was being trapped within the previously placed filter. This case illustrates that caval filter could capture the bone cement and prevent it from migrating to the pulmonary circulation.
Adenocarcinoma/secondary ; Bone Cements/*adverse effects ; Embolism/*etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Iliac Vein ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Embolism/prevention & control ; Spinal Neoplasms/secondary ; *Vena Cava Filters ; *Vena Cava, Inferior ; Venous Thrombosis/radiography ; Vertebroplasty/*adverse effects/methods