2000 Volume 49 Issue 4 Pages 1078-1083
Solitary bone cyst is common in tubular bones. However, it is extremely rare in the spinal column. Only nine cases have been reported with histologically proved solitary bone cyst associated with the spine.
A 23-year-old man was referred to our hospital complaining of lower back pain for 3 years. Roentgenograms disclosed a well-defined radiolucent lesion in the fourth lumbar vertebra. Computed tomography scan disclosed cystic lesion in the fourth lumber vertebral body spreading to the left pedicle and articular process. MRI of the lumbar vertebra demonstrated the lesion, that is iso-intensity with respect to the spinal cord on T1-weighted image, and hyperintensity on T2-weighted image.
At operation, we curetted the lesion of the cystic cavity filled with bloody fluid by the transpedicular approach. Alkaliphosphatase (ALP) of the fluid was twice the serous ALP Level. Histological examination showed a thin layer of loose connective tissue with no rimming of the epithelial cells consisting of solitary bone cyst.
