Osteitis fibrosa cystica (brown tumor) of the spine with cord compression: report of a case with needle aspiration biopsy findings.

A case of osteitis fibrosa cystica or brown tumor of bone in a patient presenting with acute spinal cord compression that was suggested initially by needle aspiration biopsy of the spine is described. Following the aspiration biopsy, excision of vertebral lesions, cord decompression, and spinal fusion were successfully performed. A parathyroid adenoma was subsequently identified and also resected. Along with the diagnosis of malignancy, the presence of hyperparathyroidism with osteitis fibrosa cystica should be considered in a patient presenting with lytic lesions in bone, especially if they are associated with hypercalcemia. Serum parathormone level determination is usually diagnostic of hyperparathyroidism, but this test has a 7-10-day turnaround time. Preoperative needle aspiration biopsy is a safe and rapid method of diagnosing osteitis fibrosa cystica and may be of critical importance in a patient with acute and progressive symptoms such as cord compression.