[Diagnosis and therapy of osteoid osteoma of the vertebral lamina--a literature review and personal experiences].

Osteoid-osteoma is a benign tumor which is rarely situated in the spine. Five patients with osteoid-osteoma of the lamina treated surgically at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the University of Mainz between november 1990 and january 1992 are reviewed. The combination of pain, painful reactive scoliotic position of the spine or torticollis, hot spot in scintigraphy and nidus in computer tomography is the typical feature of the tumor. The average delay between the onset of symptoms and definitive diagnosis was 10 months. In all cases the tumor was completely removed. In one case with localization in the axis in a 15 year old boy a laminoplastic was performed. The average follow-up was 16 months. Surgical treatment afforded immediate relief of pain and an early return to full spinal mobility. In case of persisting backache especially in children or young adults osteoid-osteoma of the spine must be suspected. The scintigraphy represents the most sensitive method of diagnosis in the early stage.