title: Spinal osteochondroma: a report on six patients and a review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteochondromas are the most common benign tumour of the bone. They occur in two forms as solitary and hereditary multiple form. Osteochondromas are generally located on the metaphysis of the long bones. From 1 to 4% of osteochondromas occur in the spine. Spinal osteochondromas can cause cord and root compression and also be asymptomatic. In the diagnosis of osteochondromas, radiological methods are very important.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Because spinal osteochondroma is very rare, other benign and malign tumours should be kept in mind during differential diagnosis. In this paper, six patients with spinal osteochondral lesions were evaluated at our orthopaedic oncology department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1986 and 2009, six patients, four males, two females with an average age of 31.2 (9-65) were diagnosed with spinal osteochondroma at our clinic. Although one patient was diagnosed following another complaint, five patients were suffering from pain. In addition, four patients had swelling and one patient had neurological symptoms. Five patients were treated surgically, and the sixth one was followed conservatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients with spinal osteochondral lesions applied with mostly pain and swelling at the dorsal of the vertebrae. Because neurological symptoms are rarely seen, radiological examination is of great importance in diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients suffering from spinal osteochondroma, due to the risk of secondary chondrosarcoma, must be closely evaluated both clinically and radiologically. If necessary, the patient must be treated surgically following histopathological diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: 5th Clinic, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Ankara Numune Research and Training Hospital, 06100, Sihhiye/Ankara, Turkey. cungunay@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Cuneyd
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gunay
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atalar
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Yener
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saglik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015831:Osteochondroma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery