Chondromyxoid fibroma of the cervical spine: A case report

Abstract

Background: Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is an unusual benign tumour of cartilaginous tissues that may be confused with other malignant tumours. It is rarely seen in the cervical spine.

Case summary: A 24-year-old young woman was admitted to the hospital because of neck and shoulder pain. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray and other imaging examinations of the cervical spine and laboratory-related indicators combined with intraoperative pathology revealed that the patient had cervical CMF. We performed total resection of the vertebral body and intervertebral disc, and internal fixation was performed to simultaneously maintain the stability of the entire spine. The clinical results from extensive resection were satisfactory. At the 2-year follow-up, the patient's symptoms had not recurred.

Conclusion: CMF is a benign primary bone tumour that is rarely located in the vertebral bone. Accurate initial diagnosis of these tumours is important for appropriate treatment. En bloc surgical resection of the tumour is the cornerstone of treatment.

Keywords: Benign cartilaginous tumour; Case report; Cervical tumour; Chondromyxoid fibroma.

Figure 1

Preoperative computed tomography of the cervical spine shows lesions of the C7 vertebral body and C7/T1 intervertebral disc. A: Three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) sagittal C7 vertebral lesions; B: Three-dimensional CT coronal C7 vertebral lesions; C: Three-dimensional CT axial C7 vertebral lesions.

Figure 2

Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical vertebra shows a patchy, abnormal signal shadow of the C7 vertebral body, swelling of adjacent soft tissue, uneven enhancement after enhancement, and no abnormal signal of the cervical spinal cord. A, D: T1-weighted images; B: T2-weighted images; C, E and F: Fat suppression images.

Figure 3

Visible under the microscope: Medullary bone and bone trabeculae, part of the nucleus pulposus and abundant bone marrow were observed. Cartilaginous myxoid stroma, multifocal proliferating fusiform fibrous tissue with considerable calcium deposition and multinucleated giant cells are on the side. A, B: Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, original magnification × 10.

Figure 4

Postoperative X-ray of cervical vertebra. A, B: Nine months after the surgery, the cervical spine was re-examined in the anteroposterior and lateral positions and showed that the internal fixation position was good.