Posterior bone spine

Benign

• Osteochondroma
• Osteoblastoma
• Osteoid osteoma

Malignant

• Metastases

Notes

• Osteoid osteoma may be difficult to identify in the posterior elements. Fine cut CT imaging may be needed for the diagnosis.

• Osteochondromas have characteristic pedunculated appearance.

• About 10% of metastases of the spine present in the posterior elements.

Other Differential Diagnoses by Anatomic Location

• Polyostotic conditions
• Juxta-articular bone lesions
• Epiphyseal bone lesions
• Epiphyseal-metaphyseal bone lesions
• Metaphyseal and metaphyseal-diaphyseal bone lesions
• Diaphyseal bone lesions
• Parosteal bone lesions
• Anterior bone spine
• Sacrum bone lesions