title: Myofibroma of the cervical spine presenting as brachialgia.
abstract: Myofibromas are rare, benign tumors of myofibroblasts. Their occurrence in adults, involving bone outside of the head and neck, is especially uncommon. The authors report the case of a 34-year-old woman who presented with left-sided brachialgia. Magnetic resonance imaging identified an expansile soft-tissue lesion of the C6-7 facet joint. En bloc resection via a left posterior midline approach was undertaken. Histopathological analysis confirmed the lesion to be a myofibroma. Brachialgia resolved following surgery and there is no evidence of recurrence at 20 months follow-up. Myofibroma is a rare cause of primary soft-tissue tumor of the spine. Surgical excision remains the mainstay of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1 Neurosurgery and.
authors.forename: Benjamin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: du Plessis
authors.forename: Kanna K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Gnanalingham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020968:Brachial Plexus Neuritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D047708:Myofibroma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000473:pathology
keywords: SMA = smooth muscle actin; brachialgia; cervical spine; myofibroma; oncology