title: Fibrous dysplasia of the mobile spine: report of 8 cases and review of the literature.
abstract: METHODS
  Eight cases of fibrous dysplasia (FD) of the mobile spine treated surgically at the same center were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study focuses on the issues concerning the diagnosis of FD and the outcome of conventional surgical techniques (resection or curettage) and vertebroplasty in the treatment of spinal FD lesions.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Surgical excision or curettage is considered the standard treatment of spinal FD, whereas vertebroplasty is also performed occasionally.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2005 and October 2010, 8 consecutive patients with spinal FD underwent conventional surgery (6 cases) or combined with vertebroplasty (2 cases). Before surgery, 4 patients underwent percutaneous computed tomography-guided biopsy, whereas 3 had incorrect histopathological diagnosis. In each of the 8 cases, the final pathological diagnosis was established after their open surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain relief was observed postoperatively in all patients. Three patients with neurological impairment became symptom-free after surgery. No cement extravasation was observed. Screw loosening and allograft resorption were observed in 1 case each. Signs of radiological improvement (filling of lytic lesions or thickening of the bone cortex surrounding the lesions) were not detected in any case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The radiological features of spinal FD may be atypical. The rate of correct preoperative pathological diagnosis by computed tomography-guided biopsy was low for patients with suspected spinal FD. Vertebroplasty is probably a valuable therapeutic option for spinal FD with pathological fractures. Limited decompression and stability with vertebroplasty might be recommended for patients with neurological deficits.
authors: *Orthopaedic Department and †Radiology Department of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; and ‡Pathology Department of Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
authors: Feng Liang
authors: FL
authors: Wu
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Jiang
authors: Chen
authors: C
authors: Liu
authors: Shao Min
authors: SM
authors: Yang
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Wei
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Dang
authors: Xiao Guang
authors: XG
authors: Liu
authors: Zhong Jun
authors: ZJ
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003475:Curettage; D005260:Female; D005357:Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010027:Osteotomy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty