[Clinical manifestation and surgical treatment of spinal osteoblastoma]

OBJECTIVE

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

METHODS

From 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.

RESULTS

All 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.

CONCLUSIONS

Spinal 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.

Osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma of the cervical spine: the cause of unusual persistent neck pain

BACKGROUND

The most important symptom in patients with osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma is a resistant localized neck pain and stiffness in the spine.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and analyze 6 cases of osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma of the cervical spine that were surgically treated over a 7-year period and to emphasize the unusual persistent neck pain associated with osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma of the cervical spine.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

METHODS

Six patients, 3 male and 3 female, with a mean age of 21 years (range 16-31) diagnosed with osteoid osteoma or osteoblastoma during 2003 to 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. The preoperative neurological and clinical symptoms, neck pain duration, preoperative deformity, location of lesion, radiological findings, surgical technique and clinical follow-up outcomes of each patient were evaluated.

RESULTS

The average follow-up duration was 40.5 months (range, 19 to 83 months). Three patients had osteoid osteoma (2 female and one male), and 3 patients had osteoblastoma (one female and 2 male). Two male patients had recurrent osteoblastoma. The locations of the lesions were as follows: C7 (2 patients), C3 (one patient), C2 (one patient), C3-C4 (one patient) and C5-C6 (one patient). The most common symptom was local neck pain in the region of the tumor. Among all patients, only one patient, who had osteoblastoma, had neurological deficits (right C5-C6 root symptoms). The other patients had no neurological deficits. All patients were treated with surgical resection using microsurgery. Two patients underwent only tumor resection, one patient underwent tumor resection and fusion, and the other 3 patients underwent tumor resection, fusion and spinal instrumentation. No perioperative complications developed in any of our patients. There was no tumor recurrence during the follow-up period.

LIMITATIONS

A retrospective study with 6 analyses of cases.

CONCLUSION

Surgical treatment of osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma of the spine has been standardized. The most common symptom of osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma of the cervical spine is local persistent neck pain in the region of the tumor. This symptom can be significant in the diagnosis of these tumors.

Exostosis-like intra-articular periosteal osteoblastoma: a rare case

Osteoblastoma is a relatively rare benign bone tumor, most often located in the vertebral column or metaphysis of the long bones, particularly the femur and the tibia. Periosteal osteoblastoma is the least common type. Exostosis-like appearance is not common even in periosteal osteoblastoma, a very rare type of this tumor. In addition, an intraarticular location is uncommon for osteoblastomas. Here we report the case of a 25-year-old man with intra-articular exostosis-like periosteal osteoblastoma of the hip that resulted in impingement and osteoarthritis.

Osteoblastoma of the hyoid bone

Osteoblastoma is a rare bone tumor that usually affects the vertebrae. We present the first known case of osteoblastoma arising in the hyoid bone, in a patient who presented with a neck mass and dysphagia. The radiographic appearance of the tumor is similar to that of low-grade chondrosarcoma, with well-defined expansion of the bone and central chondroid matrix.

Limited approach to a thoracic spine osteoblastoma

Osteoblastoma (OB) is a rare primary benign bone tumor. It generally occurs in the axial skeleton, where it preferentially involves the neural arch. The peak incidence of this neoplasm is in the first two decades of life. Female/male ratio is 2:1. It is important to differentiate OB from osteoid osteoma, a very similar bone tumor. Neuroradiological imaging are diagnostics in most of the cases. This article describes a 18-year-old female affected from a thoracic osteoblastoma stemming from T9 lamina and extending to T11, with a diameter of about 2.5 cm. The patient complained of dorsal pain with progressive weakness to lower limbs. A dorsal approach was performed with a right partial T9 and T11 right laminectomy with total T10 right laminectomy. The mass was totally removed by a limited approach, with no consequent instability and no reason for any stabilization. OB is rare benign bone neoplasm that generally affect the posterior elements of the spine. Surgery is the treatment of choice in this kind of lesions: total removal is effective with no recurrence. When the lesion is placed in the cervical and thoracic spine the goal is to decompress spinal cord and reach the stability of the spine.

Surgical treatment of osteoblastoma : a report of 20 cases

Osteoblastoma is a locally aggressive osteoblastic lesion of bone with rare malignant transformation. We retrospectively evaluated 20 patients who were diagnosed and surgically treated for osteoblastoma in our institution. Their mean age was 22.5 years (range: 10 to 34). The most frequent location was in the posterior elements of the spine, followed by the long bones of the extremities and the talus. Intralesional curettage was the most common modality of treatment; it was used in 11 patients, with a 13% recurrence rate. This series demonstrates that osteoblastoma may be locally aggressive and may recur after removal. Although it is usually treated successfully with curettage, wide excision should be considered along with careful follow-up over the long term owing to the possibility of recurrence or malignant transformation.

Epithelioid Multinodular Osteoblastoma: A Clinicopathologic Analysis of 26 Cases

We describe the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of 26 osteoblastomas with a multinodular growth pattern (defined as multiple nidi in a single tumor) and primarily epithelioid-appearing cells. Clinical information and histologic slides for all 26 patients and radiologic studies for 9 were examined. Follow-up information was obtained from medical charts at our institution and from correspondence with pathologists who submitted cases in consultation. Of the 23 patients with osteoblastoma whose sex had been recorded, 18 were male and 5 were female (median age, 17.8 y). The most common site was the jawbones, although long bones were also involved. Radiologic studies suggested a benign lesion in 5 patients, a malignant lesion in 2, and indeterminate features in 2. Histologically, the tumors appeared to be multiple nodules of epithelioid cells, most with a lacy, blue-bone matrix. Frequently, there were sheets of cells with no matrix. Follow-up information was obtained for 14 of the 23 patients. One patient died in an automobile accident; all others were alive as long as 29 years after treatment. Epithelioid osteoblastomas mimic osteosarcoma because of similar cellularity and cytologic features. Although follow-up is limited, we are cautiously optimistic that these are benign lesions.

Defining a noncarcinogenic dose of recombinant human parathyroid hormone 1-84 in a 2-year study in Fischer 344 rats

The carcinogenic potential of human parathyroid hormone 1-84 (PTH) was assessed by daily subcutaneous injection (0, 10, 50, 150 microg/kg/day) for 2 years in Fischer 344 rats. Histopathological analyses were conducted on the standard set of soft tissues, tissues with macroscopic abnormalities, selected bones, and bones with abnormalities identified radiographically. All PTH doses caused widespread osteosclerosis and significant, dose-dependent increases in femoral and vertebral bone mineral content and density. In the mid-and high-dose groups, proliferative changes in bone increased with dose. Osteosarcoma was the most common change, followed by focal osteoblast hyperplasia, osteoblastoma, osteoma and skeletal fibrosarcoma. The incidence of bone neoplasms was comparable in control and low-dose groups providing a noncarcinogenic dose for PTH of 10 microg/kg/day at a systemic exposure to PTH that is 4.6-fold higher than for a 100 microg dose in humans. The ability of PTH to interact with and balance the effects of both the PTH-1 receptor and the putative C-terminal PTH receptor, may lead to the lower carcinogenic potential observed with PTH than reported previously for teriparatide.

Preoperative embolization of cervical spine osteoblastomas: report of three cases

Our aim was to describe the technique and clinical results of preoperative embolization of cervical spine osteoblastomas. We treated 3 patients with these tumors with transarterial embolization and subsequent surgical excision. In all 3 patients, distal access to the tumor-supplying vessels was gained with a microcatheter and embolization was performed with polyvinyl alcohol particles. No complications occurred. Surgical resection was performed in all patients without relevant bleeding. The postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. Preoperative embolization is a valuable adjunct to the surgical treatment of osteoblastomas of the cervical spine.

A complementary method for the detection of osteoblastic metastases on digitized radiographs

PURPOSE

This study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of gray level parameters in order to distinguish healthy bone from osteoblastic metastases on digitized radiographs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Skeletal radiographs of healthy bone (n = 144) and osteoblastic metastases (n = 35) were digitized using pixels 0.175 mm in size and 4,096 gray levels. We obtained an optimized healthy bone classification to compare with pathological bone: cortical, trabecular, and flat bone. The osteoblastic metastases (OM) were classified in nonflat and flat bone. These radiological images were analyzed by using a computerized method. The parameters (gray scale) calculated were: mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation (MGL, SDGL, and CVGL, respectively) based on gray level histogram analysis. Diagnostic utility was quantified by measurement of parameters on healthy and pathological bone, yielding quantification of area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, AUC.

RESULTS

All three image parameters showed high and significant values of AUC when comparing healthy trabecular bone and nonflat bone OM, showing MGL the best discriminatory ability (0.97). As for flat bones, MGL showed no ability to distinguish between healthy and flat bone OM (0.50). This could be achieved by using SDGL or CVGL, with both showing a similar diagnostic ability (0.85 and 0.83, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our results show that the use of gray level parameters quantify healthy bone and osteoblastic metastases zones on digitized radiographs. This may be helpful as a complementary method for differential diagnosis. Moreover, our method will allow us to study the evolution of osteoblastic metastases under medical treatment.

Osteoblastoma of the larynx: a case report

We describe a unique case of an osteoblastoma in the cricoid cartilage of a 50-year-old man who presented with hoarseness and progressive dyspnea. Panendoscopic examination revealed a reddish tumor at the left side of the cricoid cartilage. Computed tomography (CT) imaging showed a sclerotic lesion involving the cricoid cartilage, protruding in the airway lumen. The tumor was removed via an external procedure. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of osteoblastoma.

Osteoblastic Osteosarcoma of the Mandible: Findings on Tc-99m HMDP Bone and Ga-67 Citrate Scintigraphy

A 25-year-old woman presented with a disturbance in the opening of her mouth 5 months before admission. On admission, painful swelling of the right preauricular region was revealed. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a soft tissue density mass around the right condylar process of the mandible. Tc-99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (HMDP) bone scintigraphy and Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy showed avid uptake in the mass. The tumor was histologically identified as an osteoblastic osteosarcoma of the right mandible. There are few reports of Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy findings of osteoblastic osteosarcoma of the mandible. The accumulation patterns on Tc-99m HMDP bone scintigraphy and Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy are possibly characteristic of osteoblastic osteosarcoma of the mandible.

Gnathic osteoblastoma: clinicopathologic review of seven cases with long-term follow-up

The clinical, radiographic and histopathologic features of seven cases of osteoblastoma of the jaw bones were analyzed. The mandible was involved in six cases and a periosteal presentation of the tumor was noted in three cases. Six tumors were symptomatic with pain being the common presentation. The radiographic appearance of the intraosseous tumors varied from well-defined radiolucencies to poorly-defined mixed lesions. A small periosteal tumor was undetectable radiographically. Histopathologically, the tumors exhibited variation in woven bone formation, osteoblastic rimming, lesional maturation as well as interaction of the tumor with surrounding host tissue. Intraosseous tumors were managed with aggressive surgical curettage and periosteal tumors were resected and the underlying bone was curetted down to normal host bone. Follow-up of cases ranged from 2 years to 18 years with no recorded recurrences. Gnathic osteoblastomas offer a unique diagnostic challenge as they resemble other tumors of the jaws including the cementoblastoma, cemento-ossifying fibroma, cemento-osseous dysplasia and most importantly the gnathic osteosarcoma. We stress on the need to correlate the histopathologic findings with clinical and radiographic features to reach an accurate diagnosis.

Lateral malleolus en bloc resection and ankle reconstruction for malignant tumors

Four children and six adults required en bloc resection of the lateral malleolus for malignant tumors. There were four osteosarcomas, three chondrosarcomas, two Ewing's sarcomas, and one adamantinoma. Surgical margins were wide in seven patients, marginal in two, and intralesional in one. A primary ankle arthrodesis was done in four adults and bracing without any reconstruction was done in four children and two adults. During a mean followup of 14.5 years (range, 3-30 years), there were two local recurrences (two of 10 patients) after a marginal excision and an intralesional excision. One patient had reoperation for a skip osteosarcoma lesion in the proximal fibula. Other complications included chronic osteomyelitis, a lateral talus subluxation and cavovarus deformity, and recurrent ankle instability and degenerative changes of the ankle. At the latest followup, all 10 patients showed no evidence of disease. Five patients who had primary or late ankle arthrodesis had a Musculoskeletal Tumor Society and International Society of Limb Salvage functional score of 28 points (92%), and two adolescents who had postoperative bracing alone had a functional score of 24 points (80%). The three remaining patients had a salvage amputation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series--no, or historical control group). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

[Giant osteoma of the ethmoid and frontal sinuses]

The authors present a case of a huge osteoma of the ethmoid and frontal sinuses. An operative technique enabling radical removal without fragmentation of the tumor with preservation of the bony margins of the fronto-orbital region was presented.

Osteoblastoma of the mandible: systematic review of the literature and report of a case

Benign osteoblastoma is a bone tumour that seldom occurs in the facial bones. The objective of this article is to add one more case of this rare lesion to the academic literature and to provide a systematic review of previously published cases. A new case of benign osteoblastoma is presented and clinical, radiographic and microscopic aspects, as well as differential diagnosis, treatment and follow-up are discussed. The importance of the correct diagnosis of this type of lesion is stressed, since it presents a clinical, radiographic and microscopic similarity to other bone lesions, including malignant tumours, which may lead the professional into conducting the case in an improper manner.

Osteoblastoma of the mandible: Clinicopathologic study of four cases and literature review

BACKGROUND

Osteoblastoma is a benign bone tumor accounting for 1% of all bone tumors; it commonly involves the spine and the sacrum of young individuals, with less than 5% being localized to the posterior mandible. In view of its rarity in the maxilla and mandible, osteoblastoma is rarely diagnosed as such in the absence of interdisciplinary cooperation.

METHODS

A retrospective study of four benign osteoblastomas was performed based on a review of the clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of all cases.

RESULTS

The tumors involved the posterior mandible of young patients (age range, 10-21 years; two male and two female patients) and appeared as painful bone expansions. Radiologically, they were poorly defined, radiolucent/radiopaque lesions containing calcifications and not showing sclerotic borders or periosteal reactions. Histologically, they were composed of osteoid and woven bone surrounded by plump osteoblast-like cells with interposed fibroblasts, inflammatory cells, and red blood cells. All patients were disease free after prolonged follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Osteoblastomas may be distinguished from other bone tumors, fibro-osseous lesions, and odontogenic neoplasms on the basis of integrated clinical, radiologic, and histologic features and usually manifest an indolent clinical course.