X-ray morphology and pathologic anatomy of osteoblastoma

Abstract

Between 1974 and 1984, 24 patients with osteoblastomas were entered in the bone tumour registry of the Gerhard Domagk Institute of Pathology and Institute for Clinical Radiology of Westphalia. These cases are evaluated. Osteoblastoma is a benign primary bone tumour with a peak incidence between ten and 20 years and a sex ratio of 18 males to 4 females in our series. The site of predilection is the spine (59%) with long bones in second place (32%). The tumor is mostly situated in the medulla. Radiologically it usually appears as a well demarcated translucency with a narrow rim and marginal sclerosis. Variations in radiological appearance and the histology and treatment are described. A malignant variant, the "aggressive osteoblastoma", is discussed and one case is described. The classification of these cases is considered.