Primary bone non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the cervical spine: case report and review

Abstract

Primary bone lymphomas (PBL) account for approximately 3% of all malignant tumors and are commonly found in the femur or pelvis. Only 1.7% of the PBLs are found in the spine. We report the case of a 73-year-old male complaining of cervical pain with progressive loss of strength and frequent falls. The MRI showed invasion of the fourth cervical vertebra and an infiltrating prevertebral mass. A C4 corpectomy was performed. The pathology exam revealed a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Due to the previous condition of the patient only radiotherapy treatment was applied. PBL arising from the cervical spine is an exceptional event. The low incidence of this condition and its unspecific radiological features make the diagnosis challenging for the clinician. When neurological deficit appears, early surgery for decompression is indicated, followed by local radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy.