Abstract
Osteochondroma is the most common type of benign bone tumor, but it rarely affects the spine.
The patient, a 43-year-old female, was admitted with a 4-year history of slowly-progressive paraparesis and sensory disturbance. Spinal X-ray films and myelography showed an epidural mass and enlarged pedicle of the third thoracic vertebra. Computed tomography (CT) scans of this lesion presented characteristic features compatible with osteochondroma. This diagnosis was confirmed by surgery and by histological study of the resected specimen.
The case presented here, as well as a review of the pertinent literature, suggests that the following CT findings may be typical characteristics of spinal osteochondroma causing spinal compression: 1) a sharply outlined, bone-like density mass projecting into the spinal canal, 2) widening of the vertebral arch or the vertebral body from which the mass projects, 3) continuity of bony cortex of the lesion and that of the adjacent normal bone. The foregoing indicates the value of CT examination in the diagnosis of spinal osteochondroma.
