BENIGN SPINAL OSTEOBLASTOMA - 6 CASES

We present six cases of benign spinal osteoblastoma. This localization of this uncommon benign bone tumor occurring in young subjects is rar e. The patients were explored with radiotomography, computed tomograph y, myelography and medullo-spinal angiography. These benign tumors may appear radiographically as pure bone lysis mimicking malignancy. The size of these tumors often leads to widening search for extension, par ticularly in recurrent, aggressive, multifocal forms which require wid e resection, and sometimes total vertebrectomy. Medullo-spinal angiogr aphy can confirm the vascular involvement of the tumor nidus and is re quire to identify arteries supplying the spinal canal which would modi fy operative strategy.