Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the lumbar vertebrae mimicking tuberculous spondylitis: a case report.

Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PHL) of the spine is very rare. A case of a 44-year-old patient with PHL originating from a single lumbar vertebra was initially misdiagnosed as tuberculous spondylitis. After surgical decompression and biopsy, the patient was confirmed as primary B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the lumbar vertebrae and was further treated with chemotherapy. It warrants attention that PHL from the spine may be misdiagnosed as tuberculous spondylitis.