Brown tumor of the thoracic spine in a patient on long-term hemodialysis

A 39-year-old woman on long-term hemodialysis presented with a history of rapidly progressive paraplegia. Radiological examination showed a compression fracture of seventh thoracic vertebra and expansive mass lesion in the posterior elements of the fourth thoracic vertebra. Laboratory tests on admission showed serum calcium of 11.9 mg/dl, phosphate 6.0 mg/dl, and the high-sensitive parathyroid hormone level of 139,191 pg/ml measured by radioimmunoassay. Percutaneous biopsy of the expansive mass showed a large number of multi-nucleated giant cells in a fibroblastic stroma containing abundant hemosiderin. Tumor resection and anterior interbody fusion with artificial bone graft was performed on 14th hospital day. Paraplegia gradually improved postoperatively. Total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation of parathyroid gland were subsequently performed. Nodular hyperplasia was evident in the parathyroid glands by light microscopy. Brown tumor is rarely found in vertebral bone and this is the sixth case of such tumor in secondary hyperparathyroidism.