Desmoplastic fibroma in the thoracic spine: an unusual localization of a rare primary bone tumor

Abstract

A case of an intraspinal growing desmoplastic fibroma of the thoracic spine (T9–T11) is reported. Desmoplastic fibroma is a rare tumor of connective tissue that shows a locally infiltrative and destructive growth. An affection of the thoracic spine is an extremely rare manifestation. Preoperative CT documents the extent of osseous destruction and tumor associated cortical erosion. In central tumor areas an inhomogeneous, intermediate to low signal is demonstrated by MRI using T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo and turbo-spin-echo sequences. Contrast-enhanced MRI shows marked enhancement in peripheral areas depicting the extraosseous and intramedullary extension.