title: Primary lymphoma of bone: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy in a pediatric patient.
abstract: We present an unusual case of a child with an isolated lytic lesion in the L3 vertebral body. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy showed a small, blue-cell neoplasm raising the differential diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma and lymphoblastic lymphoma. Through a combination of morphologic and immunofluorescent findings we established a diagnosis of lymphoblastic lymphoma. This case further documents the utility of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of pediatric tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242-1009, USA.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Niemann
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography