Vanishing solitary osteochondroma of humerus following trauma: A case report

Abstract

Osteochondromas are the most common benign tumors of the bone. Mainly these lesions affect the long-bone metaphysis and usually are asymptomatic. When complications develop from these lesions, then they become symptomatic and surgical resection may become indicated. Spontaneous resolution of osteochondroma is rare. There have been fewer case reports about this condition. We are reporting 16 years old, male, who sustained direct trauma to his shoulder and presented with fracture at the base of a solitary osteochondroma. Complete resolution of the lesion occurred without any surgical intervention 18 months following the fracture.

Keywords: Benign bone tumor; Exostosis; Osteochondroma; Regression; Vanishing tumors.

Fig. 1

Anteropostreior (AP) & oblique views of the left humerus 2 weeks following a direct trauma, showing solitary pedunculated osteochondroma at the humerus proximal third with features of callus formation over a fracture stump.

Fig. 2

Anteropostreior (AP) & oblique views of the left humerus 12 months following the trauma, showing almost complete regression of the lesion with only a small boney remnant and scalloping of the posterolateral cortex at the site of the lesion.

Fig. 3

MRI of the left proximal humerus, A & B: T1 & T2 fat sat axial cuts showing almost complete resorption of the osteochondroma with only bony remnant at the posterolateral aspect of the proximal third of the humerus. C & D: T1 & T2 fat sat coronal cuts showing almost complete resorption of the lesion.

Fig. 4

Anteropostreior (AP) & oblique views of the left humerus 18 months following the fracture, showing complete resolution of the osteochondroma and bone remodeling.