Egyptian Journal of Neurosurgery (Dec 2021)

Fifth lumbar vertebrae solitary osteochondroma arising from the neural arch, a case report

  • Mohamed Abdel Zaher,
  • Mohammad Ali Alzohiry,
  • Amr A. Fadle,
  • Ahmed A. Khalifa,
  • Omar Refai

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41984-021-00127-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 36, no. 1
pp. 1 – 5

Abstract

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Abstract Background Osteochondromas are a benign outgrowth of bone and cartilage and one of the most common bone tumors that usually occur in long bones, with only 1–4% being located in the spine, more frequently in the cervical and upper dorsal region, and rarely the lumbar spine. Here, we report a case of lumbar spine (L5) osteochondroma arising from the neural arch. Case presentation A 30-year-old man presenting with a solid painless mass at the lower lumbar region. No neurological symptoms. Radiological examinations revealed an exophytic lesion in the fifth lumbar articular process, and the spinous process appears to be a solitary osteochondroma. Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging showed a bony lesion covered by a 2-mm-thick cartilaginous cap. Surgical en bloc resection of the mass was performed, and the histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of osteochondroma. No evidence of recurrence at the end of 4-year follow-up. Conclusion Osteochondromas are benign tumors rarely present in the spine; diagnosis can be made by the typical appearance of the cartilaginous cap over the mass in the magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical excision is the best management option.

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