Korean J Spine.  2017 Sep;14(3):99-102. 10.14245/kjs.2017.14.3.99.

Solitary Osteochondroma Presenting as a Dumbbell Tumor Compressing the Cervical Spinal Cord

• Lee JH
• Oh SH
• Cho PG
• Han EM
• Hong JB

• KMID: 2396048
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14245/kjs.2017.14.3.99

Abstract

We report a case of a solitary osteochondroma as a dumbbell tumor compressing the spinal cord and its surgical strategy. The patient is a 16-year-old female with longstanding posterior neck pain and left arm abduction weakness. She was examined by plain X-ray, three-dimensional-computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and vertebral angiography. The analyses indicated a calcified extradural mass compressing the cord in the C3-4 portion extending into the neural and vertebral foramen with eroded vertebral body. The tumor was successfully excised using a modified combined anterior and posterior approach. Histopathologic study of the resected material confirmed the diagnosis. The postoperative assessment was followed by clinical and radiologically therapy for 5 years after surgery. Osteochondroma arises from enchondral bone but it rarely involves the spine, especially not as s dumbbell type. In this patient, the tumor may have arisen from the neural arch and extended into the extradural and extraforaminal space over a long period. We successfully removed the dumbbell tumor with a combined anterior oblique and posterior approach. However, further observation is essential because of the possibility of recurrence and sarcomatous change.

Keyword

Dumbbell shaped tumor; Osteochondroma; Spinal cord compression

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Angiography
Arm
Cervical Cord*
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1
Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neck Pain
Osteochondroma*
Recurrence
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Compression
Spine
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1