[Osteochondroma of the high cervical spine--a case report (author's transl)].

Osteochondroma is one of the most common benign bone tumors, but it is rare in the spine. A woman aged 54 was admitted for investigation of left nuchal pain with radiation to the occipital region for one and a half years duration. Physical and neurological examinations revealed no objective abnormalities. The cervical spine film showed the presence of a calcified mass in the left articulation between atlas and axis. Myelogram outlined a left sided filling defect at the level of a calcified mass. The tumor was totally removed using operating microscope technique through transcervical approach. This calcified mass was confirmed as the benign osteochondroma by histological examination. The patient became completely symptom-free after the operation.