Background: Osteoblastomas are rare primary bone tumors with a predilection for the spine. The extraosseous growth pattern is rare, and to our knowledge, only 2 cases of fully extraosseous osteoblastomas have been previously reported.
Case description: A man aged 36 years presented with a 7-month history of low back pain radiating to the gluteal area. On examination, a typical L5 radiculopathy was noted. The radiologic examinations conducted in the previous months pointed out the rapid growth of an extraosseous mass occluding the right L5-S1 foramen. Partial laminectomy was performed to achieve gross total resection. Histological analysis was consistent with osteoblastoma.
Conclusions: Osteoblastomas with extraosseous extension are uncommon, and an exclusively extraosseous presentation is anecdotal. This can lead to preoperative misdiagnosis when typical radiologic characteristics of bone-forming tumors are missing. We describe the case of an extraosseous lumbar osteoblastoma whose clinical and radiologic presentation was suggestive of malignancy.
Keywords: Laminectomy; Osteoblastoma; Radiculopathy; Vertebral column.
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