title: Benign intraspinal osteoblastoma stemming from C7 lamina in cervicothoracic junction: a case report.
abstract: METHODS
  A case report of a rare benign osteoblastoma successfully treated with total en bloc excision.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical and radiographic features of an adolescent female patient with intraspinal osteoblastoma in cervicothoracic junction and the effect of surgical treatment.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  A rare case of massive benign osteoblastoma stemming from left side lamina of C7 and extension to spinal canal from C6 to T1 resulting in spinal cord compressed severely is reported. And the excellent results achieved from surgical intervention are presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 13-year-old girl complained of gradually increasing pain of her lower part of the neck and left shoulder radiating to the left upper extremity, and the neurologic deficits were found in physical examination. A massive neoplasm located in intraspinal cervicothoracic junction and the spinal cord compressed severely was shown in radiographs, MRI, and CT. The neoplasm was removed totally with instrumentation performed in surgical intervention. She was followed up for 2.5 years; clinical symptoms and plain radiograph and CT films were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The specimen of the removed mass was proven osteoblastoma pathologically. Her symptoms were relieved and the neurologic deficits recovered completely. Recurrence of the tumor was not seen at the final follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A case of massive intraspinal osteoblastoma stemming from C7 lamina was successfully treated by excised grossly with instrumentation for reconstruction of stability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: XiaoFeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: TieSheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: ZhiMing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018215:Osteoblastoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome