title: Osseous erosion by herniated nucleus pulposus mimicking intraspinal tumor: a case report.
abstract: Erosion of spinal osseous structure, so-called scalloping, has been rarely reported associated with herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP). We report a rare case of HNP causing erosion of the spinal osseous structure (including lamina). The patient was an 81-year-old woman with 3-year history of low-back pain and left leg radiating pain. Muscle weakness of the left leg was also apparent. Computed tomography following myelography showed severe compression of the dural sac at the level of L3-L4; furthermore, erosion of the lamina, pedicle, and vertebral body was noted, indicating that the space-occupying mass was most probably a tumorous lesion. The mass also showed calcification inside. During the surgery, the mass was confirmed to be an HNP with calcification. Following resection, the pain disappeared. Surgeons should be aware of the possibility of scalloping of the vertebrae caused by HNP mimicking a tumorous lesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sairyo
authors.forename: Toshinori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kosaka
authors.forename: Natsuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yasui
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D013116:Spinal Cord; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*