Histopathological patterns of spinal lesions

ABSTRACT

To determine the morphologic patterns and frequency of spinal lesions received in the pathology department of BMSI, JPMC over a 5 year period. All spinal lesions received over a period of 5 years, i.e. from 1[st] January 2004 to 31[st] December 2008 were reviewed. All specimens were formalin fixed, routinely processed for paraffin embedding, sectioned and finally stained with hematoxylin and eosin using standard procedures. When required, special stains were performed. During the study period 123 cases were received out of which 101[82.11%] were non neoplastic and 22[17.88%] were neoplastic lesions. The 22 neoplastic lesions included 6 Schwannomas, 4 Meningiomas and 5 Hemangiomatous lesions. The remaining 13 cases included 2 cases of mature teratoma and 1 case each of Plasmacytoma, Neurofibroma, Paraganglioma, Ganglioneuroma and Oligodendroglioma. Out of the 101 non neoplastic lesions 42 were granulomatous inflammations while 59 were non granulommatous lesions. The bulk of the lesions were formed by degenerative diseases and tuberculosis. Schwannomas and meningiomas were the most frequently occurring neoplastic lesions