Published online Sep 18, 2021. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v12.i9.720
Peer-review started: April 1, 2021
First decision: June 7, 2021
Revised: June 19, 2021
Accepted: August 20, 2021
Article in press: August 20, 2021
Published online: September 18, 2021
Processing time: 166 Days and 5.2 Hours
Osteochondromas are the most common benign bone tumor, accounting for 36% of benign bone tumors. Often found within the appendicular skeleton, osteochondromas of the spine are rare, comprising 4% to 7% of primary benign spinal tumors.
We report a case of a solitary lumbar osteochondroma in an 18-year-old male with a history of a suprasellar pineal germinoma treated with combined chemotherapy and radiation. He underwent mass excision and partial laminectomy with the ultrasonic bone scalpel (Misonix, Farmingdale, NY, United States) at the L5 Level without the use of adjuvants. The patient returned to work and full activities without back pain at 3 mo postoperatively.
Osteochondromas are common tumors of the appendicular skeleton but rarely occur within the spine. This case discussion supplements current osteochondroma literature by describing an unusual presentation of this tumor.
Core Tip: Osteochondromas of the spine are a rare but treatable condition. For symptomatic lesions, complete resection is largely curative without adjuvant therapy. The patient in this case report was pain free at his post-operative visits without signs or symptoms of recurrence or complication. He returned to work as a manual laborer at 3 mo. Further reports of patients diagnosed with osteochondromas and a history of childhood radiation will enable better understanding of radiation-induced osteochondromas and the rates and locations at which they occur.