Benign tumors of the spine

J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2012 Nov;20(11):715-24. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-20-11-715.

Abstract

Benign tumors in the spine include osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, aneurysmal bone cyst, osteochondroma, neurofibroma, giant cell tumor of bone, eosinophilic granuloma, and hemangioma. Although some are incidental findings, some cause local pain, radicular symptoms, neurologic compromise, spinal instability, and deformity. The evaluation of spinal tumors includes a thorough history and physical examination, imaging, sometimes laboratory evaluation, and biopsy when indicated. Appropriate treatment may be observational (eg, eosinophilic granuloma) or ablative (eg, osteoid osteoma, neurofibroma, hemangioma), but generally is surgical, depending on the level of pain, instability, neurologic compromise, and natural history of the lesion. Knowledge of the epidemiology, common presentation, imaging, and treatment of benign bone tumors is essential for successful management of these lesions.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal / diagnosis
  • Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal / therapy
  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Bone Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Eosinophilic Granuloma / diagnosis
  • Eosinophilic Granuloma / therapy
  • Giant Cell Tumor of Bone / diagnosis
  • Giant Cell Tumor of Bone / therapy
  • Hemangioma / diagnosis
  • Hemangioma / therapy
  • Humans
  • Neurofibroma / diagnosis
  • Neurofibroma / therapy
  • Osteoblastoma / diagnosis
  • Osteoblastoma / therapy
  • Osteochondroma / diagnosis
  • Osteochondroma / therapy
  • Osteoma, Osteoid / diagnosis
  • Osteoma, Osteoid / therapy
  • Prognosis
  • Spinal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Spinal Diseases / pathology
  • Spinal Diseases / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome