Tumor
Benign tumors of the spine, such as osteoid osteoma or osteoblastoma,
will cause back pain that may gradually worsen over time. The pain is
not dependent upon activity, and the characteristic night pain may be
present.36 Eosinophilic granuloma and Langerhans
histiocytosis may cause back pain with ”vertebra plana” findings on
imaging studies.37 Tumors of neural tissue, such as
schwannomas, can cause radiculopathic pain.38Calcifying-pseudo-neoplasm of the spine (“CAPNON”) is a benign slow
growing tumor that can produce mass effect39 causing
weakness and gait problems. Chordoma is the most common tumor of the
sacrococcygeal region.36,40 Malignant tumors, such as
Ewing’s sarcoma, are quite rare. Metastases of epithelial tumors (lung,
breast, prostate) are common in the lumbar and sacral spine in older
age.41 Tumors of hematopoietic tissue, such as
lymphoma or multiple myeloma, are not rare.36