Atypical osteochondroma of the lumbar spine associated with suprasellar pineal germinoma: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Osteochondromas are the most common benign bone tumor, accounting for 36% of benign bone tumors. Often found within the appendicular skeleton, osteochondromas of the spine are rare, comprising 4% to 7% of primary benign spinal tumors.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a case of a solitary lumbar osteochondroma in an 18-year-old male with a history of a suprasellar pineal germinoma treated with combined chemotherapy and radiation. He underwent mass excision and partial laminectomy with the ultrasonic bone scalpel (Misonix, Farmingdale, NY, United States) at the L5 Level without the use of adjuvants. The patient returned to work and full activities without back pain at 3 mo postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Osteochondromas are common tumors of the appendicular skeleton but rarely occur within the spine. This case discussion supplements current osteochondroma literature by describing an unusual presentation of this tumor.

Key Words: Spine osteochondroma, Lumbar osteochondroma, Laminectomy, Radiation-induced osteochondroma, Spine surgery, Case report

Core Tip: Osteochondromas of the spine are a rare but treatable condition. For symptomatic lesions, complete resection is largely curative without adjuvant therapy. The patient in this case report was pain free at his post-operative visits without signs or symptoms of recurrence or complication. He returned to work as a manual laborer at 3 mo. Further reports of patients diagnosed with osteochondromas and a history of childhood radiation will enable better understanding of radiation-induced osteochondromas and the rates and locations at which they occur.

INTRODUCTION

Osteochondromas are the most common benign bone tumor, accounting for 36% of benign bone tumors[1]. Often found within the appendicular skeleton, osteochondromas of the spine are rare, comprising 4% to 7% of primary benign spinal tumors[2,3]. Spine osteochondromas typically originate in the posterior elements as opposed to the vertebral bodies. The cervical spine is most affected (50%), followed by the thoracic and lumbar regions[4]. Characterized as outgrowths of bone covered with a cartilaginous cap, these lesions are considered aberrations of normal growth. Perichondral ring disruption at an active physis leads to cartilage herniation through the periosteal layer. Over time, the cartilaginous fragments undergo ossification and expand[5]. Their expansile nature may cause compression of surrounding structures resulting in pain and neurologic symptoms[4,6,7].

Radiation-induced osteochondroma is a known phenomenon that occurs in patients with a childhood history of radiation therapy[8]. Compared to spontaneous solitary osteochondromas and hereditary multiple exostosis, radiation-induced lesions are radiologically and pathologically identical[8,9]. The presence of a radiation-induced osteochondroma in the lumbar spine is extremely unusual, as in our presented case. A review of literature reveals only two cases of radiation induced osteochondroma occurring in the lumbar spine (one occurring in the L1 body of a 29-year-old female and the L3 spinous process of a 15-year-old female[10-12]. The case of the 15-year-old female appeared in a larger childhood post-radiative tumor study and was not formally presented. Difficulty in diagnosis stems from inconsistent visualization on plain radiographs. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the gold standard in the evaluation of spinal osteochondromas, especially in the setting of spinal cord compressive symptoms[13,14].

We present an atypical, symptomatic lumbar spine osteochondroma in an 18-year-old male with a history of chemotherapy and radiation. This case report received institutional review board approval.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

An 18-year-old-male presented to the pediatric orthopaedic clinic with the complaint of a posterior midline protuberance at the level of the lumbar spine.

History of present illness

Per the patient, the mass had been present for one year and was gradually enlarging. He noted pain with prolonged sitting and while lying supine.

History of past illness

There was no history of prior trauma or activity-related injury to his low back, however the patient worked as a manual laborer. The patient denied constitutional or neurologic symptoms. His history was significant for a suprasellar pineal germinoma successfully treated with chemotherapy and radiation at 9-years of age.

Personal and family history

No family history of hereditary multiple exostosis was reported.

Physical examination

On physical examination, there was a palpable osseous protuberance approximately 5 cm in width along the posterior midline at the level of the lumbar spine. The mass was fixed and exquisitely tender to palpation. Further examination of the body and extremities revealed no other masses. Neurologic testing was benign with normal sensorimotor response in all extremities, symmetric reflexes, no upper motor neuron or radicular signs, and no balance or gait abnormalities.

Laboratory examinations

No laboratory examinations were performed.

Imaging examinations

Initial radiographic evaluation demonstrated a large osteochondroma arising from the right spinous process/Lamina junction at the level of the L5 vertebral body (Figure 1). Subsequent CT and MRI imaging confirmed the radiographic findings without evidence of intraspinal abnormality or encroachment on the vertebral canal (Figures 2 and 3). Given the symptomatic nature and location of the mass, the patient was offered surgical treatment in the form of mass excision.

Figure 1 Anterior to posterior and lateral radiographs demonstrating calcified, pedunculated mass protruding from the posterior elements of the L5-S1 vertebral interval. A: Anterior to posterior radiograph; B: Lateral radiograph.

Figure 2 Computed tomography imagines. A: Axial computed tomography imaging demonstrating osteochondroma protruding from right spinous process/Lamina junction; B: Sagittal computed tomography imaging at the level of the L5/S1 facet joint depicts mass involvement of the right inferior articular process of L5. An ultrasonic bone scalpel was used to remove the mass en bloc from the articular process without disrupting the facet capsule.

Figure 3  Sagittal T2 magnetic resonance image demonstrating the well-defined 1. 5 cm cartilaginous cap of the lumbar osteochondroma extending into the right paraspinal musculature.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

A diagnosis of an osteochondroma arising from the right spinous process/Lamina junction at the level of the L5 vertebral body was made, and this was later confirmed with surgical pathology.

TREATMENT

Intraoperatively, mass excision with partial laminectomy was performed through a posterior midline incision. Careful paramedian dissection was performed in order to free the soft tissues surrounding the mass without destabilization of the interspinous ligaments or the right L5-S1 facet joint. Once isolated, the mass was excised en bloc with use of a harmonic bone scalpel. A Woodson elevator was utilized under the lamina to gauge depth and ensure that the ventral surface of the lamina remained intact. After excision, a paraspinal muscular flap closure was performed to minimize the potential space created by the mass. Gross surgical pathology revealed a large bony mass measuring 3.8 cm × 3.5 cm × 2.5 cm that included a 1 cm thick sessile cartilaginous cap. Surgical margins were noted to be smooth (Figure 4). Microscopic examination demonstrated mature hyaline cartilage, fibrous perichondrium, and trabecular bone without cellular atypia or malignant features. Enchondral ossification was present within the sample without marrow elements identifiable within the trabecular bone. Pathology was consistent with benign osteochondroma (Figure 5).

Figure 4  Gross specimen of excised lumbar mass measuring 3. 8 cm × 3.5 cm × 2.5 cm with cartilaginous cap and smooth muscle margin.

Figure 5  Histology of excised mass demonstrating mature cartilage, fibrous perichondrium, and trabecular bone without evidence of cellular atypia or malignant transformation; consistent with osteochondroma.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

Post-operatively, the patient was discharged on postoperative day 1 following removal of his drain. His post-operative course was uncomplicated. He returned to his work as a manual labor without pain or limitation at three months following surgery.

DISCUSSION

Osteochondromas are benign osteocartilaginous proliferations at a growth plate that typically stop increasing in size at skeletal maturity[5,15]. They infrequently occur in the spine (1% to 4% of osteochondromas) with the majority localized to the cervical spine[4]. Cases of lumbar osteochondromas, like the case presented, are scarce.

Patients typically present with axial pain which may be exacerbated with certain positions or activity like the patient in this study. Neurological manifestations from cord compression are rare but have previously been reported[16]. Initial radiographic evaluation may reveal a spinal lesion composed of a cortical protuberance in continuity with the medullary canal. Advanced imaging is recommended to aid in diagnosis. CT imaging provides detail of the osseous and cartilaginous margins whereas MRI can provide the thickness and architecture of the cartilaginous cap. A cartilage cap > 3 cm thickness can indicate malignant transformation[1,4].

Lumbar involvement of these exostoses is rare, perhaps due to increased stiffness of the lumbar spine when compared to the cervical spine and therefore less microtrauma to the epiphyseal cartilage. Osteochondromas occur within the posterior elements of the spine and may become symptomatic with growth into the paraspinal musculature[17]. A review of lumbosacral osteochondromas performed by Kuraishi et al[16] noted radicular symptoms in 4 out of 5 cases. In that series, involvement of the L4 inferior articular processes resulted in an L5 radiculopathy whereas involvement of the superior articular process of S1 corresponded with an L5 radiculopathy.

Given our patient’s history of a suprasellar pineal germinoma requiring chemotherapy and radiation, the spinal lesion was potentially radiation-induced. Pediatric oncology literature describes osteochondroma growth as a complication of both localized radiation therapy as well as total body irradiation[18]. The proposed pathogenesis is radiative damage to the epiphyseal plate resulting in immature cartilage fragment migration to the epiphysis and periosteal layers. These cartilage fragments expand during subsequent maturation and ossification. Radiation-induced osteochondromas have been reported in the ulna, tibia, and hands[18-20]. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed case report of a spinal osteochondroma in a pediatric patient with previous radiation treatment.

Painful lesions or those causing neurologic deficit require surgical intervention. If resection entails destabilizing the spine, instrumentation and arthrodesis should be considered. The goal of surgery should be complete resection of the lesion[21]. Surgical nuance of our lumbar osteochondroma excision was the use of an ultrasonic bone scalpel. The ultrasonic bone scalpel amplifies electrical signals that oscillate a blunt blade, allowing for targeted resection of cortical bone without violation of soft tissues[22]. Given the location of our patients osteochondroma with abutment of the right L5 interspinous ligament and right L5-S1 facet capsule, excision of the mass without violating the soft tissues prevented posterior spinal destabilization requiring subsequent instrumentation and fusion.

CONCLUSION

Osteochondromas of the spine are a rare but treatable condition. For symptomatic lesions, complete resection is largely curative without adjuvant therapy. The patient in this case report was pain free at his post-operative visits without signs or symptoms of recurrence or complication. He returned to work as a manual laborer at 3 mo. Further reports of patients diagnosed with osteochondromas and a history of childhood radiation will enable better understanding of radiation-induced osteochondromas and the rates and locations at which they occur.