VERTEBRA PLANA - BENIGN OR MALIGNANT LESION

The case of a 9-year-old boy presenting with a vertebra plana at T7 is reported, The initial diagnosis, as suggested by clinical presentatio n, conventional radiographs and CT scans, was eosinophilic granuloma. Positive radionuclide bone scan led to biopsy of the posterior arch, w hich suggested giant cell tumour. MRI showed extraspinal tumour involv ement, Vertebrectomy revealed osteosarcoma.