Chondroblastoma of the Lower Thoracic Spine. A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background: Chondroblastoma of the spine is a very rare condition. To the best of our knowledge, fewer than 30 cases have been reported in the world literature. Material and methods: The authors describe here a rare spinal localization with an uncommon evolution and make a review of the cases of spinal chondroblastoma reported in the literature. Results: We report the case of a patient with chronic back pain and progressive weakness of both lower limbs. Computed tomography scan showed a mass infiltrating the twelfth thoracic vertebra and adjacent structures. The patient underwent surgery and subtotal removal was achieved while a posterior stabilization was performed. Pathological examination revealed a chondroblastoma. During follow-up, MRI examination revealed that the tumor had locally relapsed; nevertheless, the patient was asymptomatic for 13 years after operation. Conclusion: Spinal chondroblastoma has an aggressive behavior with high recurrence and mortality rates.