A rare presentation of osteochondroma at the spinous process of the cervical spine: a case report

Osteochondroma is a benign cartilaginous tumor that usually arises from the growth plate of the long bones. Its presentation in flat bones is uncommon. Spinal osteochondroma is a rare case, with only a 4% incidence compared to all spinal neoplasms. We report an unusual case of osteochondroma at the spinous process of the C4 spine of a 15-year-old patient with the chief complaint of neck discomfort on movement. The patient has previously been diagnosed and treated for multiple hereditary exostoses of other bones. The patient underwent surgery for the current lesion with complete excision to the base of the lesion. Histopathology revealed a benign osteochondroma with a thin layer of cartilaginous cap. The patient was healed uneventfully and had no recurrence of the lesion on the same site at the 1-year follow-up. Surgical resection remains the mainstay treatment of osteochondroma and has proved to the low recurrence. In the case of cervical osteochondroma, surgery is advisable, particularly in symptomatic patients, to prevent complications.