title: Aggressive osteoblastoma of the cervical spine involving the canal and vertebral artery: a case report.
abstract: We present such a case of aggressive osteoblastoma of cervical spine. We describe its complicated clinical progression, hoping to shed light on the surgical strategy of this complex tumor.
  
  
  
  We present such a case of aggressive osteoblastoma involving the C6-7 vertebrae. A 25-year-old man was diagnosed as aggressive osteoblastoma of the cervical spine. The lesion encroached upon the radicular foramina and was located adjacent to the canal of the vertebral artery. Preoperative embolization was performed to reduce intraoperative bleeding and to prevent intraoperative injury of the vertebral artery.
  
  
  
  A pathologic examination showed osteoblasts suggestive of osteoblastoma. At 2-year follow-up, bony union was achieved, and there was no evidence of recurrence on a CT scan.
  
  
  
  En bloc total resection for highly vascular osteoblastoma is ideal, but this case shows that piecemeal total resection following preoperative embolization is a surgical option for highly expansive osteoblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai Showa-ward, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai Showa-ward, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan. imagama@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6951-8575
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imagama
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai Showa-ward, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai Showa-ward, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai Showa-ward, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018215:Osteoblastoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: Aggressive osteoblastoma; Cervical spine; Involving the canal and vertebral artery