[Primary bone tumors and tumor-like lesions of the spine. The accuracy of radiological assessment criteria].

In 79 primary bone tumors and tumorlike lesions of the spine radiological criteria are analyzed, which allow to assess the biological nature. Criteria associated with benign lesions, are: regular, trabecular matrix, osteoplastic matrix, exostotic growth, location in the posterior elements, absent soft tissue mass, and bulging of the vertebra. Criteria suggestive of malignancy are: Soft tissue mass, location inside the vertebral body, no alteration of the vertebral shape, compression fracture, and osteolysis. Benign lesions can be diagnosed with a higher degree of reliability than malignant tumors. Diagnostic accuracy increases in lesions exhibiting more than one criterion of the same group.