Solitary spinal osteochondroma in childhood. Case report

Abstract

Introduction: Osteochondroma is the most common benign bone tumor in children. These are benign cartilage-forming lesions. Spinal involvement is rare, and even more so in the solitary form, representing 1 to 4% of lesions. The overlapping course of its symptoms and signs delays diagnosis. Vertebral bone x-rays and soft tissue ultrasound are useful studies to corroborate suspicion. Other methods such as computed axial tomography and magnetic resonance imaging allow assessment of canal and neuroradicular involvement. This allows for early treatment and prevents deformities or permanent neurological damage. The objective of this article is to present a pediatric case of solitary spinal osteochondroma in which imaging studies were very useful for the diagnosis, corroborated by histopathological examination of the lesion.Clinical case: A 7-year-old female patient presented clinically with an increase in lumbar spine volume over the past year. Imaging studies such as ultrasound, lumbosacral X-ray, and computed tomography (CT) scan were used to diagnose the condition, which was confirmed by histopathological examination of the lesion following surgery. The patient's progress was satisfactory. Conclusions: Diagnostic imaging techniques are a valuable tool in our field, allowing us to identify vertebral osteochondromas, correlating them with the clinical presentation, and providing appropriate patient management, as was the case in this case.