OBJECTIVE: Cervical spine osteochondromas are rare with approximately 3% of solitary and 7-9% of hereditary osteochondromas occurring in the spine. Almost 50% of spinal osteochondromas occur in the cervical region. METHODS: A search of osteochondroma of cervical spine was performed of our radiology database. RESULTS: In this study, we present 11 cases of adult cervical spine osteochondromas. These predominantly involved the posterior elements. The cartilage cap was more than 2 cm in 2 cases. There was cord compression in 1 case, foraminal narrowing in 2 patients and vertebral artery compression in 1 case. 6 patients underwent excision with majority being osteochondroma. There was only one case of chondrosarcoma. CONCLUSION: Osteochondromas of cervical spine and extremely rare and symptomatology are due to mass effect. One should be aware of this entitly when analysing cervical spine for neck pain or lump.
OBJECTIVE: Cervical spine osteochondromas are rare with approximately 3% of solitary and 7-9% of hereditary osteochondromas occurring in the spine. Almost 50% of spinal osteochondromas occur in the cervical region. METHODS: A search of osteochondroma of cervical spine was performed of our radiology database. RESULTS: In this study, we present 11 cases of adult cervical spine osteochondromas. These predominantly involved the posterior elements. The cartilage cap was more than 2 cm in 2 cases. There was cord compression in 1 case, foraminal narrowing in 2 patients and vertebral artery compression in 1 case. 6 patients underwent excision with majority being osteochondroma. There was only one case of chondrosarcoma. CONCLUSION: Osteochondromas of cervical spine and extremely rare and symptomatology are due to mass effect. One should be aware of this entitly when analysing cervical spine for neck pain or lump.