Chondroblastoma of the Lumbar Spine - A Case Report and Review of the Literature -

Chondroblastoma is a benign cartilaginous neoplasm usually arising in the epiphyses of long bones in young subjects. The histogenesis of chondroblastomas is controversial, although cartilage germ cells or epiphyseal cartilage cells are presumed to be the cell of origin. The most common anatomical site involved by chondroblastoma is the proximal humerus followed by the distal femur, proximal femur, proximal tibia, talus, and innominate bone, in descending order. Localization in the spine is rare, and only 30 cases of spinal chondroblastoma have been reported with only nine cases occurring in the lumbar region. Herein, we report a 25-year-old man with chondroblastoma arising in the third lumbar vertebra. The relevant histopathological differential diagnoses are discussed with a brief review of the literature. CASE REPORT