Clinicoradiological diagnosis of benign osteoblastoma of the spine in children.

Three cases of benign osteoblastoma of the spine in children are reported, diagnosed on the basis of clinicoradiological findings and confirmed at surgery and by histopathology. The authors feel that in all cases of painful scoliosis and painful torticollis, a careful search should be made for any suspicious area of sclerosis, especially in the posterior elements of the vertebrae, and all the positive or suspected cases should undergo nuclear bone scanning. All patients whose bone scan is positive should be subjected to computed tomography for differential diagnosis between osteoid osteoma and benign osteoblastoma.

Spinal brucellosis.

Twenty-four cases of spinal brucellosis are described. We believe that it is possible to distinguish this condition from spinal tuberculosis on the basis of the clinical and radiological findings.

Aneurysmal bone cysts of the dorsal spine.

Aneurysmal bone cyst is an uncommon but interesting condition, more so when it involves the vertebrae. Three cases of aneurysmal bone cysts of the dorsal spine, suspected on clinicoradiological findings and confirmed by histopathology, are reported in this paper. The authors believe that when the disease affects the pedicles or transverse processes of a vertebra, the plain roentgenographic findings are quite typical of the disease, and a confident radiological diagnosis is possible in the majority of cases.

Leri-Weill syndrome (dyschondrosteosis): a family study.

Madelung's deformity due to Leri-Weill Syndrome (Dyschondrosteosis) is a rare condition. Six cases of this entity involving two generations in one family are reported in this communication. The differential diagnosis of the various causes of Madelung's deformity are briefly discussed.