Tumors of the Posterior Elements of the Spine in Children-an Overview.

Abstract

In this narrative review, we aim to describe the clinical features, diagnosis, and management of common primary osseous tumors affecting the posterior elements of the spine in children. We searched PubMed, Mendeley, and Google Scholar using the terms primary osseous tumors of the spine in children, tumors of the posterior elements of the spine, and names of individual tumors. The clinical features, investigations, and treatment modalities were analyzed, and a narrative review of the topic was prepared. We have included 54 studies published in the last 20 years. The majority are isolated reports or case series. Tumors of the posterior elements of the spine are rare. They are common in children and the majority of them are benign. Pain and deformity are common presentations. It is better to perform thorough investigations of children complaining of back pain to rule out primary tumors of the posterior elements of the spine.