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Brown Tumor of the Spine as a Complication of Hyperparathyroidism: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Mostafa Osman, Andrew Wild, Mahdi Bassi

Med Sci Case Rep 2017; 4:121-127

DOI: 10.12659/MSCR.907375

BACKGROUND: Brown tumors (BTs), are rare non-neoplastic, focal, reactive, osteolytic lesions that represent the terminal stage of the hyperparathyroidism-dependent bone pathology and are also known as osteoclastoma ‘osteitis fibrosa cystica’ or ‘Von Recklinghausen’s disease’ of the bone. BTs are commonly associated with hyperparathyroidism. A review of the literature has shown that 56 cases of BTs cases (including our case) have been reported to date.
CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 21-year-old male known to have chronic renal failure, who presented with progressive lower-limb weakness. CT and MRI of the spine showed a large, expansile, lytic lesion compressing the thoracic spinal cord. The patient underwent spinal decompression with spinal fixation and tumor resection. Postoperatively, the patient made a significant recovery of function, with improvement in motor function.
CONCLUSIONS: BTs are part of a systemic disease and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of bone lesions in patients with hyperparathyroidism.

Keywords: Hyperparathyroidism, Primary, Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary, Kidney Failure, Chronic

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