抄録
A benign osteoblastoma case of the atlas is reported.
The patient, a 54-year-old male, was admitted because of nuchal pain. General examination revealed a tenderness of the posterior neck with paravertebral muscle spasms, but the neurological examination was not remarkable. Cervical spine radiography revealed an osteolytic and partially sclerotic lesion of the atlas with a thin bony shell. Bone scintigraphy showed a round high uptake. Computerized tomography scan disclosed a mixed density mass. Myelography revealed smooth indentation of the posterior subarachnoid space at C1-2 level. Angiography showed a faint tumor stain. The tumor was totally removed, and histological examination of the surgical specimen showed the characteristic features of a benign osteoblastoma. The nuchal pain disappeared, and there has been no recurrence.
Benign osteoblastoma is a rare benign bone tumor. It manifests a distinct predilection for the spine, and represents 3.7% of all tumors of the spine. Moreover, about a half of the benign osteoblastoma of the spine are accompanied with some neurological deficit.
