Endoscopic excision of C2 Osteoid Osteoma: a technical case report.

Purpose: The Authors illustrate the feasibility of an open biopsy and complete excision of Osteoid Osteoma involving the C2 vertebral body performed via endoscopic anterior cervical approach.

Methods: A 23-year-old male patient with history of delayed diagnosis of cervical Osteoid Osteoma underwent evaluation and surgical treatment: the minimally invasive procedure and techniques were described. The clinical features, the radiological findings and the outcome were assessed. Complications and local recurrences were also recorded.

Results: There were no intra- or post-operative complications. Immediately after surgery the typical Osteoid Osteoma related pain disappeared. At three years follow-up the patient was asymptomatic and considered disease-free: CT-scan and x-Ray showed no local recurrence and C2-C3 interbody fusion with cervical plate in site.

Conclusions: The endoscopic transcervical surgery represents an interesting option for the treatment of these diseases in difficult areas of the upper cervical spine, also minimizing soft tissue trauma and collateral damage allows patients a faster and complete return to normal function. To our knowledge this is the first report of cervical spine tumor removal using this minimally invasive approach.