Desmoplastic fibroma in the thoracic spine: an unusual localization of a rare primary bone tumor

A case of an intraspinal growing desmoplastic fibroma of the thoracic spine (T9-T11) is reported. Desmoplastic fibroma is a rare tumor of connective t issue that shows a locally infiltrative and destructive growth. An affectio n of the thoracic spine is an extremely rare manifestation. Preoperative CT documents the extent of osseous destruction and tumor associated cortical erosion. In central tumor areas an inhomogeneous, intermediate to low signa l is demonstrated by MRI using T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo and turbo-spin -echo sequences. Contrast-enhanced MRI shows marked enhancement in peripher al areas depicting the extraosseous and intramedullary extension.