Chondromyxoid Fibroma of The Lumbar Spine. A Case Report and Literature Review

Objective: CMF is an uncommon benign tumor of bone and spinal involvement is rare. There were only ten cases of CMF occurred in the lumbar spine reported in the literature to date. It often leads to diagnostic confusions and the differential diagnosis is based mainly on the histopathologic examination. To present a rare case of chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) involving the lumbar spine which presented with of low back pain and right-side sciatic pain, successfully treated by complete excision, with a brief overview of the literature. Methods: The patient was a 65-years old woman with persistent low back pain and sciatic pain of one year's duration. MR imaging demonstrated an epidural lesion at the L4/5 level. The preoperative diagnosis was cyst of lumbar articular process. Complete excision of the tumor and spinal fusion were performed. Results: The patient experienced immediate pain relief after surgery and the postoperative course was uneventful with near complete recovery of sensory and motor function. On 1-year follow-up after surgery, the patient reported no symptom such as pain or hyperesthesia and no evidence of recurrence were observed. Histologic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of CMF. Conclusion: The spinal involvement of CMF is rare. On the basis of a review of the literature, this is the eleventh case reported which was occurred in the lumbar spine. The diagnosis is based mainly on the histopathologic examination. Complete enbloc resection should be recommended in consideration of the potential of the recurrence and malignant transformation.