Solitary eosinophilic granuloma of the lumbar spine in an adult. Case report.

Eosinophilic granuloma of bone is the localised and most benign form of Langerhans-cell histiocytosis, previously known as histiocytosis X and is characterised by lytic lesions of one or more bones. It is a disease of children and adolescents, and very rarely affects adults. We report a 34-year-old patient with a solitary eosinophilic granuloma involving the fifth lumbar vertebra which produced sciatica. Operative treatment performed by a single extended posterior approach consisted of total resection of the tumour with hemicorporectomy, L4-5 and L5-S1 discectomy, interbody fusion with an iliac bone graft, and interpedicular fixation. Postoperatively, the symptoms resolved and the patient continues to do well at 2 1/2 years follow-up.