title: Primary myoepithelioma of the dorsal spine: a case report and review of literature.
abstract: METHODS
  Case report and review of the relevant literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present a case of primary spinal myoepithelioma and discuss its clinical, radiological and histopathological characteristics. We report a long-term follow-up of 5 years.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Myoepithelial neoplasms, represent a diverse morphological and biological spectrum of tumors, composed of epithelial and myoepithelial elements. Primary myoepithelioma of the bone is extremely rare and very few cases of spinal myoepitheliomas have been reported till date.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 50-year male, presenting with complaints of paraparesis and difficulty in walking, was diagnosed to have an expansile lytic lesion involving the D10 vertebral body with paraspinal extension. The patient underwent D10 laminectomy and gross total resection of the tumor. Patient's power improved postoperatively, and he returned to his full functional status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Long-term follow-up of 5 years reveals 2 recurrences, despite gross total resection at the initial surgery followed by radiotherapy. Histopathology, at the third surgery, documents the transformation of myoepithelioma into myoepithelial carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary myoepithelioma of spine is very rare. Gross total resection with wide resection margins in the paraspinal region should be used to tackle this rare entity as the role of adjuvant therapy is doubtful. Long-term follow-up is a must.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of *Neurosurgery †Pathology, and ‡Radiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Amey R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Savardekar
authors.forename: Sachin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goudihalli
authors.forename: Debajyoti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Chirag K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.forename: Pravin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salunke
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009208:Myoepithelioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012008:Recurrence; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae