Osteochondroma of the thoracic spine and scoliosis.

STUDY

DESIGN

The case of a 16-year-old patient with an osteochondroma in T11 and scoliosis is reported.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the treatment of an osteochondroma with scoliotic deformity and the imaging methods used for the diagnosis.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Osteochondromas arising in the vertebral column are rare. However, spinal involvement is found with some regularity because osteochondromas are among the most common benign tumors of bone.

METHODS

The clinical history, plain radiographs, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, and pathologic findings of the reported patient were reviewed. The medical literature also was reviewed.

RESULTS

The patient was treated with surgery in an attempt to remove the tumor and correct the aesthetic deformity. The results were satisfactory, with an improvement of the thoracolumbar scoliosis from 45 degrees to 18 degrees.

CONCLUSIONS

Osteochondromas of the vertebral column may cause scoliosis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are necessary for evaluating the origin, size, and characteristics of the tumor. In this case, surgical management involved resection of the tumor and correction of the scoliotic deformity.