Osteoblastoma of the Lumbar Spine

Osteoblastoma is an uncommon benign osteoid tissue-forming bone tumor. We present the case of a 16-year-old adolescent boy with lower back pain that radiated down the right thigh. Lumbar MRI and CT findings were consistent with a long-standing osteoid osteoma located in the right laminae and pedicle of L3. SPECT/CT with 99mTc-DPD showed a highly increased osteogenic activity within the lesion, especially in the core region, also suggesting an osteoid osteoma. Surgical en bloc resection was performed with a final histological diagnosis of osteoblastoma.