Thoracic ossification of the human ligamentum flavum: histopathological and immunohistochemical findings around the ossified lesion

• DOI: 10.3171/spi-07/08/184
• Publication Date: 2008-01-24T13:19:02Z
• Authors: Takafumi Yayama; Kenzo Uchida; Shigeru Kobayashi; Yasuo Kokubo; Ryuichiro Sato; Hideaki Nakajima; Takaharu Takamura; Alexander Bangirana; Hiroshi Itoh; Hisatoshi Baba
• Keywords: Male; Ossification, Heterotopic; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2; Middle Aged; Decompression, Surgical; Elastic Tissue; Immunohistochemistry; Collagen Type I; Thoracic Vertebrae; 03 medical and health sciences; Chondrocytes; Ligamentum Flavum; 0302 clinical medicine; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; Disease Progression; Humans; Female; Tissue Distribution; Nervous System Diseases; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Collagen Type II; Aged

Object. The object of this study was to histopathologically and immunohistochemically characterize ossification the ligamentum flavum (OLF) in samples thoracic spine harvested en bloc during surgery enhance understanding ossifying process, particularly calcification ossification. Methods. Samples OLF plaque were obtained from 43 patients who underwent posterior decompression. histopathological findings correlated with radiological subtypes using computed tomography. expression type I II collagens, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming (TGF)β, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)–2 investigated. Results. Surgical decompression floating resection technique resulted neurological improvement 40 patients. Progression lesion longitudinally medially associated significant degeneration elastic fibers, fiber bundle derangement, decrements diameter, fragmentation. Calcification paralleled extended more medially, fused central area. Expression BMP-2, TGFβ, VEGF chondrocytes calcified cartilage fibrocartilage layers, especially around front. Conclusions. Histopathologically, progress closely fibers