Osteoid osteoma of the cervical spine depicted as dumbbell tumor by MRI

We report a case of 14-year-old male patient with osteoid osteoma of the ce rvical spine. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large dumbbell-sh aped paravertebral tumor in the region of the exiting left C6 nerve. A comp uted tomographic (CT) scan after myelography showed a much smaller bony def ect in the medial aspect of the left C6 pedicle with central calcification and extensive bone sclerosis around the defect, typical of osteoid osteoma. The diagnosis was confirmed postoperatively. The resected specimen exhibit ed extensive vascularization of the osteoid tissue. The case is presented b ecause MRI did not allow a specific diagnosis of osteoid osteoma, and sugge sted the tumor was larger than in reality it was, by also depicting the rea ctive inflammation around the tumor as if it were part of the tumor.