solitary osteochondroma of the thoracic spine with compressive myelopathy; a rare presentation

a 19-year-old man presented with a 5-year history of back pain radiating to the lower extremities and paresthesis of the toes during the last year. plain x-ray revealed a large cauliflower shaped exophytic mass at the level of t8, t9 and t10 vertebrae. computed tomography (ct) and magnetic resonance imaging (mri) showed an abnormal bony mass arising from the posterior arch of t9 with protrusion to the spinal canal and marked cord compression. the cortex and medulla of the lesion had continuity with those of the t9 vertebra. surgical en bloc resection was performed and the patient’s symptoms resolved. the histopathologic diagnosis was osteochondroma. in patients with symptoms of myelopathy, in addition to more common etiologies, one should also be aware of rare entities such as osteochondroma.