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Updated: Mar 2, 2026
Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
A Rare Presentation of Cervical Spine Osteochondroma
Vijay Shankar1, Kumar Amerendra Singh1, Simanchal P Mohanty1
1Department of Orthopaedics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
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.
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