Abstract
Enchondroma is a benign cartilaginous tumor that is rarely found in the vertebral column. We encountered a case of solitary enchondroma of the fifth cervical vertebra. The patient was a 12-year-old boy who complained of neck pain and paresthesia of the upper limb. Cervical spine X-ray films demonstrated destruction of the C5 vertebral body by a cystic lesion. The tumor was removed piecemeal from the involved vertebral body and a strut graft of iliac crest bone was inserted. Histological examination of the tumor revealed a benign chondroma with no signs of metaplasia or degeneration. Five months later, he underwent C4-C6 posterior fusion to prevent kyphotic deformity that could arise secondary to anterior fusion of the spine in childhood. The postoperative course was uneventful. Follow up at 10 years showed complete resolution of his pain and neurological deficit with no radiological evidence of tumor recurrence. Good vertebral alignment and adequate stability were demonstrated on lateral cervical spine films. We report this case with a review of the literature.
