Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia of the cervical spine: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Multiple lytic lesions of the spine usually represent metastatic or infectious disease processes.

PURPOSE: To describe an extremely rare presentation of an uncommon disease process.

STUDY DESIGN/

SETTING

Case report/university hospital.

METHODS

We describe the management of a patient who presented with a pathological fracture of C3 and multiple lytic lesions of the cervical spine.

RESULTS

After reconstructive surgery, the final pathological diagnosis was fibrous dysplasia.

CONCLUSION

Fibrous dysplasia is rarely seen in the cervical spine and may mimic other pathological processes. The surgical and medical management of spinal fibrous dysplasia is described.