A case of osteoblastoma located in the fourth lumbar spine

Abstract

We described an experience of a case of benign osteoblastoma of the fourth lumbar vertebra in a 21-year-old male which has been observed a year and resected totally following instrumentation with ISOLA. A plain X-ray showed a lytic and sclerotic lesion of the right transverse process of the fourth lumbar vertebra, CT and MR imaging clearly revealed a destructive lesion on the same part of the plain X-ray film findings. An open biopy was performed and obtained tissue was diagnosed as a benign osteoblastoma. We have been employed a continuous observation because his symptom was diminished after biopsy. However, one year later he complained a severe low back pain, and plain X-ray, CT, and MR imagings revealed an expanding lytic and sclerotic lesion of the right transverse process which invaded into spinal canal. The tumor was removed, and posterior fusion using ISOLA pedicle screw system and intersegmental wire fixation with bone grafting was accomplished. One year later the patient was free of symptoms. An osteoblastoma should be resected as soon as possible after diagnosed because of its rapidly growing character.