VERTEBRAL BODY EXOSTOSIS AND SPINAL-CORD COMPRESSION

Osteochondroma is a cartilaginous tumor, the most common begnin tumor of bone. It may involve solitary or multiple exostoses (or osteochondr omatosis) usually in hereditary multiple exostosis. The authors report a case of 13-year-old girl with a family history of hereditary multip les exostoses who presented with;bilateral sciatica and cauda equina c ompression: The MRI showed a tumor of the L1 vertebral body. After sur gery, pathologic specimens revealed the lesion to be an osteochondroma . Involvement of the vertebral column has been estimated from 1.3 to 4 %, Spinal cord compression is rare. CT provides the analysis of the c omponents of the tumor and clearly demonstrates it's intracanalar exte nsion. MRT is superior in visualizing spinal cord compression. The pro gnosis is favorable after a surgical decompression.