Abstract
Introduction
Osteochondromas are the most common benign tumour of the bone. They occur in two forms as solitary and hereditary multiple form. Osteochondromas are generally located on the metaphysis of the long bones. From 1 to 4% of osteochondromas occur in the spine. Spinal osteochondromas can cause cord and root compression and also be asymptomatic. In the diagnosis of osteochondromas, radiological methods are very important.
Purpose of study
Because spinal osteochondroma is very rare, other benign and malign tumours should be kept in mind during differential diagnosis. In this paper, six patients with spinal osteochondral lesions were evaluated at our orthopaedic oncology department.
Patients
Between 1986 and 2009, six patients, four males, two females with an average age of 31.2 (9–65) were diagnosed with spinal osteochondroma at our clinic. Although one patient was diagnosed following another complaint, five patients were suffering from pain. In addition, four patients had swelling and one patient had neurological symptoms. Five patients were treated surgically, and the sixth one was followed conservatively.
Discussion
The patients with spinal osteochondral lesions applied with mostly pain and swelling at the dorsal of the vertebrae. Because neurological symptoms are rarely seen, radiological examination is of great importance in diagnosis.
Conclusions
Patients suffering from spinal osteochondroma, due to the risk of secondary chondrosarcoma, must be closely evaluated both clinically and radiologically. If necessary, the patient must be treated surgically following histopathological diagnosis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albrecht S, Crutchfield JS, SeGall GK (1992) On spinal osteochondromas. J Neurosurg 77(2):247–252
Prasad A, Renjen PN, Prasad ML, Bhatty GB, Madan VS, Buxi TB, Agarwal SP (1992) Solitary spinal osteochondroma causing neural syndromes. Paraplegia 30(9):678–680
George B, Atallah A, Laurian C, Tayon B, Mikol J (1989) Cervical osteochondroma (C2 level) with vertebral artery occlusion and second cervical nerve root irritation. Surg Neurol 31(6):459–464
Calhoun JM, Chadduck WM, Smith JL (1992) Single cervical exostosis: report of a case and review of the literature. Surg Neurol 37(1):26–29
Jackson A, Hughes D, St Clair Forbes W, Stewart G, Cummings WJ, Reid H (1995) A case of osteochondroma of the cervical spine. Skeletal Radiol 24(3):235–237
Roblot P, Alcalay M, Cazenave-Roblot F, Levy P, Bontoux D (1990) Osteochondroma of the thoracic spine: report of a case and review of the literature. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 15(3):240–243
Van der Sluis R, Gurr K, Gurr K, Joseph MG (1992) Osteochondroma of the lumbar spine: an unusual cause of sciatica. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 17(12):1519–1521
Reith JD, Bauer TW, Joyce MJ (1997) Periarticular osteochondroma of the knee: report of 2 cases and review of the literature. Clin Orthop Relat Res 334:225–232
Dahlin DC, Unni KK (1986) Bone tumors, 4th edn. Charles C Thomas, Springfield, pp 19–22, 228–229
Ratliff J, Voorhies R (2000) Osteochondroma of the C5 lamina with cord compression: case report and review of the literature. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 25(10):1293–1295
Gille O, Pointillart V, Vital JM (2005) Course of spinal solitary osteochondromas. Spine 30:E13–E19
Sharma MC, Arora R, Deol PS, Mahapatra AK, Mehta VS, Sarkar C (2002) Osteochondroma of the spine: an enigmatic tumor of the spinal cord: a series of 10 cases. J Neurosurg Sci 46(2):66–70 (discussion 70)
Bléry M, Chagnon S, Chanzy M, Turmel L (1981) Cartilaginous tumors of the spine : a report on three cases with neurological symptoms (author’s transl). J Radiol 62(1):31–36 French
Palmer FJ, Blum PW (1980) Osteochondroma with spinal cord compression: report of three cases. J Neurosurg 52(6):842–845
Oga M, Nakatani F, Ikuta K, Tamaru T, Arima J, Tomishige M (2000) Treatment of cervical cord compression, caused by hereditary multiple exostosis, with laminoplasty: a case report. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 25(10):1290–1292
Silber JS, Mathur S, Ecker M (2000) A solitary osteochondroma of the pediatric thoracic spine: a case report and review of the literature. Am J Orthop 29(9):711–714
Kaneko K, Yasuma M, Yanase H (2000) Cervical myelopathy due to an osteochondroma in a 73-year-old female: the oldest case in the literature. Bull Hosp Jt 59(2):106–110
Sakai D, Mochida J, Toh E, Nomura T (2002) Spinal osteochondromas in middle-aged to elderly patients. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 27(23):E503–E506
Morikawa M, Numaguchi Y, Soliman JA (1995) Osteochondroma of the cervical spine: MR findings. Clin Imaging 19(4):275–278
Khosla A, Martin DS, Awwad EE (1999) The solitary intraspinal vertebral osteochondroma: an unusual cause of compressive myelopathy: features and literature review. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 24(1):77–81
Fiumara E, Scarabino T, Guglielmi G, Bisceglia M, D’Angelo V (1999) Osteochondroma of the L5 vertebra: a rare cause of sciatic pain: case report. J Neurosurg 91(2 Suppl):219–222
Weber KL, O’Connor MI (2007) Benign cartilage tumors. In: Schwartz HS (ed) Orthopaedic knowledge update: musculoskeletal tumors 2, 2nd edn. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 6300 North River Road Rosemont, IL 60018, pp 103–120
Arasil E, Erdem A, Yüceer N (1996) Osteochondroma of the upper cervical spine: a case report. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 21(4):516–518
Yukawa Y, Kato F, Sugiura H (2001) Solitary osteochondroma of the lower cervical spine. Orthopedics 24(3):292–293
Labram EK, Mohan J (1996) Diaphyseal aclasis with spinal cord compression: report of two cases and review of the literature. J Neurosurg 84(3):518–521
Mikawa Y, Watanabe R, Nakashima Y, Hayashida T (1997) Cervical spinal cord compression in hereditary multiple exostoses: report of a case and a review of the literature. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 116(1–2):112–115
O’Brien MF, Bridwell KH, Lenke LG, Schoenecker PL (1994) Intracanalicular osteochondroma producing spinal cord compression in hereditary multiple exostoses. J Spinal Disord 7(3):236–241
Quirini GE, Meyer JR, Herman M, Russel EJ (1996) Osteochondroma of the thoracic spine: an unusual cause of spinal cord compression. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 17:961–964
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gunay, C., Atalar, H., Yildiz, Y. et al. Spinal osteochondroma: a report on six patients and a review of the literature. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 130, 1459–1465 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-010-1058-7
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-010-1058-7