title: Unusual presentation of osteoblastoma in a patient with idiopathic scoliosis after posterior spinal fusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have described the diagnosis of osteoblastoma of the spine as a cause of scoliosis. These reports have described the tumor in conjunction with initial presentation of painful scoliosis. This case report presents a case of osteoblastoma 9 years removed from diagnosis and fusion of idiopathic scoliosis in the thoracic spine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the late presentation of an osteoblastoma of the thoracic spine 9 years after posterior spinal fusion for scoliosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 25-year-old man presented with thoracolumbar back pain and progressive neurological deficit 9 years after posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine indicated the presence of a mass in the spinal canal causing cord compression. The patient underwent decompression with resection of the mass which was found to be an aggressive osteoblastoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient enjoyed a full neurological recovery and has subsequently developed a recurrence at 13 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present osteoblastoma as a possible cause of low back pain and neurological deficit postfusion that should be considered in a differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Chicago Hospitals, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue MC 3079, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: Purnendu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018215:Osteoblastoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology