A Rare Presentation of Cervical Spine Osteochondroma.

INTRODUCTION

Cervical spine osteochondromas are rare tumors that usually involve the posterior spinal elements. Osteochondromas of the cervical spine presenting anteriorly as a mass over the supraclavicular region has not been reported in the literature.

CASE REPORT

A 12-year-old boy presented with right sided supraclavicular swelling. Plain radiographs revealed a bony mass. Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging scans of the cervical region showed a bony mass arising from pedicle and encroaching onto lamina of C6 vertebra. He underwent excision biopsy of the mass through an anterior approach. The histopathological diagnosis was osteochondroma. At 4-year follow-up, he was asymptomatic and CT scan revealed no recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Tumors arising from the posterior elements are difficult to diagnose by plain radiographs alone and require special imaging modalities to show their exact location, nature, and extent.