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Case Reports
. 2016 Nov-Dec;6(5):89-91.
doi: 10.13107/jocr.2250-0685.648.

A Rare Presentation of Cervical Spine Osteochondroma

Vijay Shankar  1 , Kumar Amerendra Singh  1 , Simanchal P Mohanty  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

A Rare Presentation of Cervical Spine Osteochondroma

Vijay Shankar et al. J Orthop Case Rep. 2016 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical spine osteochondromas are rare tumors that usually involve the posterior spinal elements. Osteochondromas of the cervical spine presenting anteriorly as a mass over the supraclavicular region has not been reported in the literature.

Case report: A 12-year-old boy presented with right sided supraclavicular swelling. Plain radiographs revealed a bony mass. Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging scans of the cervical region showed a bony mass arising from pedicle and encroaching onto lamina of C6 vertebra. He underwent excision biopsy of the mass through an anterior approach. The histopathological diagnosis was osteochondroma. At 4-year follow-up, he was asymptomatic and CT scan revealed no recurrence.

Conclusion: Tumors arising from the posterior elements are difficult to diagnose by plain radiographs alone and require special imaging modalities to show their exact location, nature, and extent.

Keywords: Osteochondroma; anterior approach; pedicle; supraclavicular.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Nil

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Clinical photograph showing swelling over right supraclavicular region.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Plain radiographs showing bony mass arising from posterior elements of C6 vertebra.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pre-operative computerized tomography scan (a) and magnetic resonance imaging (b) of cervical spine showing bony mass arising from right pedicle of C6 vertebra.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Intraoperative photograph showing osteochondroma being excised from right pedicle of C6 vertebra.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Histopathological examination showing thick cartilage cap overlying endochondral ossification.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Post-operative computerized tomography scans at 1 year (a) and 4 years (b) follow-up showing no recurrence.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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