Thoracic paravertebral leiomyosarcoma: rare but it does occur.

STUDY DESIGN: Marginal resection of a paraspinal tumor in the thoracic vertebra was performed. OBJECTIVE: To document a very rare pathology for a paraspinal tumor. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Primary leiomyosarcoma of the spine or paravertebral space is extremely rare. A case of a patient who was operated on for a mass in the spinal canal and whose pathology was reported to be leiomyosarcoma is presented. METHODS: Marginal resection of the paravertebral mass was performed. RESULTS: The pathology of the tumor was reported as leiomyosarcoma. CONCLUSION: Leiomyosarcomas may develop at any site where smooth muscle cells are present. However, primary leiomyosarcoma of the spine or paravertebral space is extremely rare. Leiomyosarcoma, although rare, should be kept in mind as one of the possible diagnoses when a patient with a paraspinal tumor is presented.