Eosinophilic granuloma of the adult spine: a case report and review of the literature.

A 35-year-old patient who had progressive neck and shoulder pain and was neurologically intact was shown to have a C3 vertebral body osteolytic lesion. Open biopsy demonstrated an eosinophilic granuloma. The lesion was treated with external beam radiotherapy (1,000 cGy total dose). This case represents the thirteenth adult spinal eosinophilic granuloma reported in the literature. Spinal eosinophilic granuloma occurs more commonly in children. The characteristics of the 13 adult spinal eosinophilic cases reported suggest differences between the adult and childhood forms. Though rare, eosinophilic granuloma of the adult spine should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal osteolytic lesions.