Chest pain caused by multiple exostoses of the ribs: A case report and a review of literature

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to report an exceptional case of multiple internal exostoses of the ribs in a young patient affected by multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE) coming to our observation for chest pain as the only symptom of an intra-thoracic localization. A 16 years old patient with familiar history of MHE came to our observation complaining a left-sided chest pain. This pain had increased in the last months with no correlation to a traumatic event. The computed tomography (CT) scan revealed the presence of three exostoses located on the left third, fourth and sixth ribs, all protruding into the thoracic cavity, directly in contact with visceral pleura. Moreover, the apex of the one located on the sixth rib revealed to be only 12 mm away from pericardium. Patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopy with an additional 4-cm mini toracotomy approach. At the last 1-year follow-up, patient was very satisfied and no signs of recurrence or major complication had occured. In conclusion, chest pain could be the only symptom of an intra-thoracic exostoses localization, possibly leading to serious complications. Thoracic localization in MHE must be suspected when patients complain chest pain. A chest CT scan is indicated to confirm exostoses and to clarify relationship with surrounding structures. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery can be considered a valuable option for exostoses removal, alone or in addiction to a mini-thoracotomy approach, in order to reduce thoracotomy morbidity.

Key Words: Multiple hereditary exostoses, Thoracoscopy, Ribs exostoses, Chest exostoses, Chest pain

Core tip: This is a report of an exceptional case of multiple internal exostoses of the ribs in a young patient affected by multiple hereditary exostoses observed for chest pain as symptom of an intra-thoracic localization. Chest pain could be the only symptom of an intra-thoracic localization, possibly leading to serious complications. Thoracic localization must be suspected when patients complain chest pain. Computed tomography scan in indicated to confirm exostoses and to clarify relationship with surrounding structures. Video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery can be considered a valuable option for exostoses removal, alone or in addiction to a mini-thoracotomy approach, in order to reduce thoracotomy morbidity.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this paper is to report an exceptional case of multiple internal exostoses of the ribs in a young patient affected by multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE), who came to our observation complaining chest pain as the only symptom of an intra-thoracic localization. MHE is also known as diaphyseal aclasia, osteochondromatosis or multiple osteochondroma. It is an autosomal dominant disorder with growth plate-like exostoses next to long bones and other skeletal elements.

Usually, all affected individuals are diagnosed by age 12 years, but the median age of diagnosis is three years. The risk for malignant degeneration to osteochondrosarcoma increases with age[1].

The diagnosis of MHE is based on clinical-radiographic results of multiple exostoses in members of a family. The two genes involved are known to cause MHE are EXT1 and EXT2. Mutations in both EXT1 and EXT2 are detected in 70%-95% of affected individuals[2]. Exostoses of the rib are extremely rare, contributing to approximately 1% of all exostoses in MHE[3-5]. We report the case of a patient, complaining only chest pain, affected by MHE with three exostoses protruding directly into the thoracic cavity.

CASE REPORT

A 16 years old patient with familiar history of MHE, came to our observation for a right sided knee-pain caused by an exostoses of the distal femur irritating the surrounding aponeurotic structures. The patient had undergone several surgical procedures for exostoses removal on both femur, tibia and fibula, left radius and fourth finger of the right hand, all performed by our Unit. During physical examination, patient reported even having a left-sided chest pain. This pain had increased in the last months with no correlation to a traumatic event and was exacerbated by physical activity and cough. Palpation didn’t reveal any subcutaneous swelling. There was no sign of coughing, sputum, nausea, tremor or fever and his laboratory values were all normal. The chest x-ray revealed the presence of three exostoses located on the right second and twelfth and on the tenth left ribs, not related to the pain complained by the patient. We therefore performed a computed tomography (CT) (Figure 1) of the chest with 3-dimension reconstruction which even showed the presence of three exostoses on the left third, fourth and sixth ribs. All the three exostoses protruded into the thoracic cavity, directly in contact with visceral pleura. Moreover, the apex of the one located on the sixth rib revealed to be only 12 mm away from pericardium. Because of symptoms complained by the patient and the particular location of exostoses with potential serious complication, we therefore decided for surgical intervention.

Figure 1 Thoracoscopic findings. Exostosis originating from the costochondral junction of the ribs, with the tip adjacent to the pericardium. The thickening of the pericardium and pleura was caused by scratching with the exostosis during respiratory movements and cardiac pulsations.

Surgical technique

The patient received general anesthesia. Unilateral ventilation with a tidal volume of 300 mL was obtained using a double-lumen endotracheal tube.

A lateral decubitus position was used and a 4-cm long mini-thoracotomy incision was performed at the fifth intercostal space in addition to a standard thoracoscopic portal at the eighth intercostal space in order to completely resect exostoses avoiding recurrence and organ injury.

The surgeon identified by thoracoscopy three significant exostoses originating from the ribs within the left side of the chest (Figure 2); one of them hurt the pericardium during cardiac pulsations, as visualized under unilateral right ventilation after exclusion of the left lung. This scratching caused a thickening of the adjacent pericardium and visceral. Each exostoses were completely resected using a chisel and the specimens obtained were sent to the pathologist. In the apex of the chest cavity a single thoracotomy tube was inserted and positioned.

Figure 2 A chest computed tomography scan showing exostoses originating from the left third, fourth and sixth ribs, with a long bony spicule projecting inwards toward the lung.

The incisions were closed and the lung was re-expanded to evaluate correct ventilation. The postoperative course was ordinary, and the patient was discharged on the seventh postoperative day. Pathological examination of the specimens obtained were consistent for exostoses, measuring 2 cm in length and 1 cm in width in the third rib, in the fourth one 2 cm in length and 0.5 cm in width and in the sixth one 2.5 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width (Figure 3). At the last 1-year follow-up, patient was very satisfied and no signs of recurrence or major complication had occurred.

Figure 3 Macroscopic aspect of exostosis.

DISCUSSION

The most common localization of exostoses is distal femur, proximal tibia, fibula and humerus, bones that develop from cartilage. Angular deformities, leg-length inequalities and pain resulting from inflammation of skin, tendons or nerves often require surgery.

The flat bones like iliac and scapula are less frequently involved. Rarely ribs, spine, metatarsals, metacarpals, phalanges are involved[1]. Costal exostoses may be difficult to recognize on the chest using only X-ray and the chest CT scan is usually suitable[3-5]. Malignant transformation is seen in 0.5%-5% cases of MHE. Axial sites as ribs, spine, pelvic hips and shoulder are sites of increased risk of malignant transformation. Average age at malignant transformation in MHE is 25-30. It is rare before 20 years of age.

Generally, exostoses grow and gradually ossify during skeletal growth and stop growing with skeletal maturity. The proportion of individuals with MHE who have clinical symptoms rises from approximately 5% at birth to 96% at age 12 years[1].

MHE doesn’t require therapy in the absence of clinical symptoms, but it should be recommended in selected patients. Despite several studies exist in literature regarding costal exostoses, only few Authors have reported surgical management and outcomes of intra-thoracic localization (Table 1).

Table 1 Review of surgically treated intra-thoracic exostoses reports.

Ref.	Year	Age	No. of exostoses	Procedure	Outcomes
[6]	1980	9	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[7]	1981	20	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[8]	1989	7	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[9]	1990	14	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[10]	1993	19	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[11]	1994	36	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[12]	1994	3	1	Thoracoscopy	Good
[13]	1997	19	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[14]	1998	15	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[15]	1997	17	1	Thoracoscopy	Good
[16]	2001	21	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[17]	2005	6	3	Thoracoscopy	Good
[4]	2005	15	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[18]	2005	11	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[19]	2006	14	1	Thoracotomy/thoracoscopy	Good
[20]	2008	17	2	Thoracotomy	Good
		15	1	Thoracotomy	Good
		23	2	Thoracotomy	Good
		12	1	Thoracotomy	Good
		3	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[21]	2009	15	1	Thoracoscopy	Good
[22]	2009	16	1	Thoracoscopy	Good
[23]	2010	17	1	Thoracoscopy	Good
[3]	2011	14	2	Thoracotomy	Good
		6	2	Thoracotomy	Good
[24]	2012	25	1	Thoracotomy/thoracoscopy	Good
[25]	2013	2	1	Thoracotomy	Good
[26]	2013	5	1	Thoracoscopy	Good
[27]	2012	21	1	Thoracotomy/thoracoscopy	Good
[28]	2014	16	2	Thoracoscopy	Good
[29]	2014	15	1	Thoracotomy	Good
		5	Multiple intra/extrathoracic	Thoracotomy	Good
[30]	2015	18	1	Thoracoscopy	Good

Most of the cases described concern about a single exostoses, alone or associated to MHE, while very few papers report the management of multiple intra-thoracic exostoses[3,16,19,27,28]. The majority of cases were treated with a thoracotomy approach, with an increase of less invasive surgery such as video-assisted thoracoscopy in the last two decades[12,15,17,21-23,26,28,30]. However, some Authors have underlined the needs of an additional mini-thoracotomy incision depending on the localization of rib involvement and the dimension of the exostoses[19,24,27]. Therefore, considering our case, we sought to completely resect exostoses avoiding recurrence and organ injury preferring a 4-cm mini-thoracotomy approach instead of an additional standard thoracoscopic portal.

The outcomes of surgical management were favorable in all previously reported cases with no significant complications, as in our case. Only Cowles et al[17] reported a persistent post-operative pneumothorax related to a malfunction of chest drainage system, resolved without consequence[17].

Interestingly, in most of the cases reported the diagnosis was made due to complication, potentially fatal, caused by interference with surrounding structures, as was the choice to surgically treat the exostoses. On the contrary, only two cases are described in literature with pain caused by intra-thoracic localization of exostoses as the only reason for exostoses removal[14,29], as in our case.

The patient described in this report revealed only chest pain, but localization and dimension of exostoses could have had a possible risk of dangerous thoracic organ damage or risk of haemothorax due to traumas or vascular wound directly caused by the tip of the exostoses, as widely reported in literature.

Chest pain could be the only symptom of an intra-thoracic exostoses localization, possibly leading to serious complications. Thoracic localization in MHE must be suspected when patients complain chest pain. A chest CT scan is indicated to confirm exostoses and to clarify relationship with surrounding structures. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery can be considered a valuable option for exostoses removal, alone or in addiction to a mini-thoracotomy approach, in order to reduce thoracotomy morbidity.

COMMENTS

Case characteristics

The patient, a 16 years old Caucasian male, reported having a left-sided chest pain, increased in the last months with no correlation to a traumatic event and was exacerbated by physical activity and cough.

Clinical diagnosis

Palpation don’t showed evidence of any subcutaneous swelling and there was no sign of coughing, sputum, vomiting, palpitation or fever.

Differential diagnosis

Neuropathic pain, rib fracture, pneumothorax, haemothorax, pneumonia, pleuritis, chest or pleural or lung neoplastic process were excluded by the clinical and objective sign, laboratory tests and imaging.

Laboratory diagnosis

Hemoglobin level, hematocrit, electrolytes, liver enzymes and coagulation parameters were all normal.

Imaging diagnosis

The chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) revealed the presence of three exostoses located on the right second and twelfth and on the tenth left ribs, not related to the pain complained and other of the three exostoses on the left third, fourth and sixth ribs.

Pathological diagnosis

The imaging suggested the diagnosis of multiple exostoses of the rib and it was confirmed after the surgical excision by the pathological examination of the speciments.

Treatment

All the exostoses were removed by a thoracoscopy approach with a chisel.

Related reports

Costal exostoses may be difficult to recognize on the chest X-ray. The chest CT scan is usually useful for diagnosis and malignant transformation is seen in 0.5%-5% cases of multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE).

Term explanation

MHE, also known as Multiple Osteochondroma, Osteochondromatosis and Diaphyseal Aclasia, is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by formation of ectopic, cartilage-capped, growth plate-like exostoses next to long bones and other skeletal elements.

Experiences and lessons

Thoracic localization in MHE can be suspected when patients complain chest pain and a chest CT scan is indicated to confirm exostoses and to clarify relationship with surrounding structures.

Peer-review

This is an interesting and well presented case report of a rare genetic disease.