title: Three-level en bloc spondylectomy for desmoplastic fibroma of the thoracic spine: a case report.
abstract: METHODS
  A case of desmoplastic fibroma of the thoracic spine treated by a three-level en bloc spondylectomy is reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present a rare case of desmoplastic fibroma of the spine, and to emphasize the importance of at least a marginal resection of this tumor entity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Desmoplastic fibroma is a rare tumor, with the literature reporting approximately 220 cases of the disorder in patients younger than 30 years of age. This disorder has a predilection for the mandible and the meta-diaphyses of long bones. A location of desmoplastic fibroma in the spine has been reported in only a few cases. Desmoplastic fibroma has a high tendency of local recurrence, especially after intralesional resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reported case is that of a 14-year-old girl with a desmoplastic fibroma of the 9th, 10th, and 11th vertebrae. After confirmation of the diagnosis by CT-guided biopsy, a three-level en bloc spondylectomy with marginal resection of the desmoplastic fibroma was performed from the posterior approach. Stabilization was achieved with a multilevel pedicle screw instrumentation, and an autologous fibula was used for reconstruction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At this writing, 31 months after surgery, the girl has no evidence of recurrence and is pain free.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wide resection of tumors located in the spine actually is impossible to achieve because of the anatomic relations to the spinal cord, the major vessels, and the lung. As in the current case, a marginal resection is the maximal one to be achieved. Three of seven cases (43%) of desmoplastic fibroma in the spine treated by intralesional resection resulted in a local recurrence. These data clarify the importance of at least marginal resection of desmoplastic fibroma, if this is anatomically and technically possible. A local recurrence of desmoplastic fibroma in the spine can be impossible to treat surgically with a curative intention without a significant loss of function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital Münster, Germany. hardes@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: Jendrik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hardes
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gosheger
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Halm
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Winkelmann
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Liljenqvist
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D018220:Fibroma, Desmoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome