title: Pathology quiz: small cell osteosarcoma.
abstract: A 15-year-old black male presented with shortness of breath, leg weakness, and pain in his back and rib cage. Four years previously he had noticed a lump in his upper back and complained of pain when playing basketball, especially on contact to that area. Recently, the pain had become more constant and increased in intensity. This was associated with loss of control in his legs, weakness, and paraesthesia. General physical examination revealed a palpable mass in the right midline upper back. Laboratory results were within normal limits. Radiographic scans demonstrated a destructive soft tissue mass at T6 vertebral body with scattered stippled calcification (Figure 1). The patient underwent a biopsy followed by excision of the mass (Figure 2) and decompressive laminectomy with reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of South Florida, Tampa General Hospital, Davis Islands, Tampa, FL 33601, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chamyan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gilbert-Barness
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018228:Sarcoma, Small Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed