title: Intraspinal extradural benign fibrous histiocytoma of the lumbar spine in a pediatric patient. Case report and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Benign fibrous histiocytoma (BFH) is a rare skeletal tumor. Spinal localizations have been previously described in 17 cases, and this is the first report of BFH occurring at the lumbar spine in a pediatric patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 13-year-old male complained lower limb motor and sensory impairment with severe claudication and urination disorders. A huge intraspinal, extradural mass at L4-L5 level, clearly evident on a preoperative MRI, caused dislocation and severe compression of the cauda equina nerve roots. After a biopsy, confirming BFH, a tumor resection and L4-S1 vertebral arthrodesis was carried out. At 1 year follow-up, no recurrence was detached on postoperative MRI, with complete neurological recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Review of the literature is discussed. Histological examination is mandatory for a correct diagnosis and plan of treatment. None of the pediatric patients treated for BFH have ever shown local relapse.
authors.affiliation: Spinal Surgery Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. fabriziodonati2@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.affiliation: Spinal Surgery Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Proietti
authors.affiliation: Spinal Surgery Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burrofato
authors.affiliation: Spinal Surgery Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico Alessandro
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Santagada
authors.affiliation: Spinal Surgery Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco Ciro
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Tamburrelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Benign fibrous; Histiocytoma; Lumbar spine; Pediatric back pain; Vertebral tumor; Xanthofibroma