Abstract

Malignant lymphomas are occasionally encountered in the spine, where they are usually secondary deposits. The authors report the case of a primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the L1 vertebra in whom surgical treatment (two operations and double approach) was followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The diagnosis is often made at a late stage, when neurological deficits produced by epidural compression become evident. The surgical treatment is only palliative but has several goals: obtaining a biopsy, improving the neurological symptoms through decompression, stabilizing and "rebuilding" the spinal column; it is performed using posterior, anterior or combined approaches which are discussed. The combined surgical, radiotherapeutic and polychemotherapeutic treatment is associated with a 5-year survival rate of 60-80%. Such a prognosis justifies the risk of surgery which will lead to a stable and lasting reconstruction.